The New Jersey Devils (29-18-6) will look to build on their impressive recent form when they visit the Buffalo Sabres (20-26-5) at KeyBank Center on Sunday afternoon in what promises to be an intriguing Metropolitan-Atlantic division clash.
The Devils enter the contest riding high after a dominant 5-0 victory against the Flyers, showcasing their potent offense that has produced 16 goals in their last four games while maintaining one of the league's stingiest defenses, allowing just 2.49 goals per game.
Buffalo, despite their challenging season, has shown signs of life offensively, with Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka combining for 39 goals and 46 assists while netting 11 goals in their last two games.
The contrast between New Jersey's rock-solid defensive unit, anchored by Jake Allen's .906 save percentage, and Buffalo's struggling defense that allows 3.39 goals per game could prove to be the decisive factor in this matchup.
Both teams feature dynamic offensive talents capable of taking over games, with the Devils' duo of Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt (36 goals, 82 assists combined) matching up against the Sabres' dangerous forward group led by Thompson and Peterka.
As these teams prepare to face off at KeyBank Center, the question remains whether the Devils can maintain their defensive excellence or if the Sabres can leverage their home-ice advantage to spark an upset against their division rivals.
Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils: who will win?
For tonight's Buffalo Sabres vs New Jersey Devils matchup, our predictive model gives the Devils a 65% chance of defeating the Sabres.
Pre-game probabilities
New Jersey Devils
Moneyline
Win %
65%
35%
Buffalo Sabres
New Jersey Devils: 65% win probability
- Superior goal differential (-31 vs -14, indicating better overall team performance)
- Higher league position (5th in Eastern Conference vs 16th)
- Better points total (64 points vs 45 points in similar games played)
Buffalo Sabres: 35% win probability
- Poor defensive record (174 goals against in 51 games)
- Significantly lower win rate (20 wins vs 29 for Devils)
- Bottom position in Atlantic Division (8th place with only 45 points)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts..
| Buffalo Sabres | New Jersey Devils | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline |
Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils form
Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils head to head
Buffalo Sabres
17%
New Jersey Devils
83%
Oct 5, 2024
New Jersey Devils
3 : 1
Buffalo Sabres
Oct 4, 2024
Buffalo Sabres
1 : 4
New Jersey Devils
Mar 29, 2024
Buffalo Sabres
5 : 2
New Jersey Devils
Nov 26, 2023
New Jersey Devils
7 : 2
Buffalo Sabres
Oct 27, 2023
New Jersey Devils
5 : 4
Buffalo Sabres
Apr 11, 2023
New Jersey Devils
6 : 2
Buffalo Sabres
