New York Rangers vs. Buffalo Sabres Picks and Prediction, Thursday October 9, 2025
Use Code SSWC The NHL season has kicked off with a bang already, and on Thursday, we'll see a very fun showdown between two of New York's teams with our New York Rangers vs. Buffalo Sabres prediction.
The New York Rangers (0-1-0) got off to a poor start to their 2025/26 campaign, but with hopes of turning around a disappointing run a season ago, they'll be hoping for their first win in this one.
On Thursday they battle the up-and-coming Buffalo Sabres (0-0-0), a team that's been waiting to end their Stanley Cup Playoffs drought for a decade and a half, and with a young core that's taking steps, hopes are high for the upcoming season. Read on to see our New York Rangers vs. Buffalo Sabres prediction.
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Can the Rangers bounce back from a tough season opener?
The New York Rangers were a major disappointment in 2024/25, but after some big changes this offseason, hopes were very high that they could turn things around and become a Stanley Cup Playoffs team once again this season. With these changes, the team is still relying on their veteran core of J.T. Miller, Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox, but in a very tough Eastern Conference, there's absolutely no guarantee that they're set to return to the postseason.
In this one, the Rangers will look to Igor Shesterkin in net, and while the Rangers had a down year in 2024/25, Shesterkin was solid once more as he posted a 2.86 GAA alongside a .905 save percentage, once again showing why he's one of the top goaltenders in the NHL. Last time out for the Rangers was a brutal performance in their home opener, with the team struggling to score on 25 shots as Shesterkin stopped 27 of the 28 shots he saw on the night, not enough to stop them falling 3-0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Can the Sabres finally end their post-season drought?
The Buffalo Sabres have been looking like a promising team for several years now, and with their young core leading the way, they believe 2025/26 can be the season in which they finally crack their 15-year Stanley Cup Playoffs drought. Last season, the Sabres were solid at home, posting a record of 23-15-3 in that time, and with the team locking in Jack Quinn, Ryan McLeod and Bowen Byram over the summer, it's clear they believe this lineup can do something special this season.
Last season, it's no surprise that the team was led in goals and points by Tage Thompson with 44 and 72, but with JJ Peterka traded this offseason, they'll need someone to step up alongside him this time around. In net for Buffalo in this matchup will be veteran Alex Lyon, who appeared in 30 games for the Detroit Red Wings a season ago, with a very solid 2.81 GAA showing that he can be very good at the NHL level, even if he's not going to be the regular starter when everyone is healthy.
New York Rangers vs. Buffalo Sabres pick
Moneyline pick for Rangers vs. Sabres
- Buffalo +100 (4 units)
In three meetings a season ago, the Buffalo Sabres were surprisingly 2-1 over the struggling New York Rangers, and with a very solid 23-15-3 record at home last year, the Sabres are a very tight underdog in this matchup.
In that time, the two teams split their two matchups in Buffalo 1-1, but with the Sabres looking to come out of the gates hot against a lifeless Rangers team, expect them to cause a big upset in front of their loyal fans in their home opener.
Over/under pick for Rangers vs. Sabres
- Under 6.5 (4 units)
In three head-to-head encounters a season ago, the average goals scored between these two teams was seven, and after the Rangers were shut out on opening night, this matchup shouldn't be a high-scoring one.
For the Sabres, they ranked top-15 in goals scored around the league, and with Alex Lyon putting together a 2.81 GAA, they'll come into this one with hopes of shutting down the Rangers offense, and for the Rangers, they scored 3.11 goals per game a season ago, with the team failing to score on 27 shots in their home opener this season.
Keep it simple, take the under.
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