Buffalo Sabres vs Vegas Golden Knights Picks and Predictions March 15th 2025

Buffalo Sabres vs Vegas Golden Knights March 15th 2025

Looking to win big? The Golden Knights and Sabres face off at 12:30 ET on ESPN+. The Sabres are hosting the game at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. The Golden Knights are favored by -1.5 goals in this non-conference contest against the Sabres. The game’s over/under currently sits at 6.5 goals.

Bettors analyzing the Saturday NHL slate should closely evaluate this matchup before selecting their NHL Expert Picks.

Vegas vs. Buffalo Key Information

• Teams: Golden Knights at Sabres
• Where: KeyBank Center Buffalo
• Date: Saturday, March 15th
• Betting Odds VEG -193 | BUF +162 O/U 6.5

The Golden Knights Can Win If…

The Golden Knights improved to 39-19-7 with a 4-3 overtime win against Utah. Vegas, favored by -1.5 goals, failed to cover the puck line. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 7 goals surpassed that mark.

Vegas trailed 2-0 before Pavel Dorofeyev scored at 15:06 in the second period. The Golden Knights had four different players score, with Brett Howden netting the game-winner at 2:15 in overtime.

Vegas fired 35 shots on goal, with Brett Howden netting his 6th goal of the season in overtime. William Karlsson added his 2nd goal of the year, while Pavel Dorofeyev scored for the 7th time. Noah Hanifin found the net for the 2nd time this season and also contributed two assists, bringing his total to 5 assists on the year.

After a scoreless first period, the Golden Knights got on the board with Dorofeyev’s goal at 4:54 in the second. Hanifin’s goal came just before the second period ended, at 19:59. Karlsson’s goal was at 5:37 into the third, and Howden’s game-winner came 2:15 into overtime.

Defensively, the Golden Knights will look to improve after allowing the first two goals and another late in the 3rd period in their previous game. Adin Hill made 16 saves with a save percentage of 84.2%. The defense also registered 10 takeaways and 22 hits.

• Across Vegas’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 1-2. Their record vs the puck line sits at 1-2 in these matchups, while posting a 1-2 over-under mark.
• The Golden Knights have gone 7-3 over their last ten regular season games. Across these games, their puck line record was just 6-4, while posting an over-under record of 5-5.

The Sabres Can Win If…

Buffalo’s 2-1 loss to the Red Wings dropped their record to 25-33-6. The Sabres took an early lead with a short-handed goal from Alex Tuch, but Detroit responded with two power-play goals in the second period.

The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for just 3. As underdogs on the puck line, Buffalo failed to cover.

Buffalo took 32 shots on goal but only found the net once in their 2-1 loss to Detroit. Alex Tuch scored his fifth goal of the season, an unassisted shorthanded effort at 8:21 in the first period.

The Sabres had 13 giveaways and were shut out in the second and third periods. They failed to score on the power play and recorded no assists in the game.

Buffalo’s defense gave up two goals, both coming in the second period on power plays. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage. The Sabres’ defense also contributed 5 takeaways and 17 hits.

• Across Buffalo’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 1-2. In these contests, the team went just 1-2 against the spread, while going 1-2 on the over-under.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Sabres have gone 3-7 straight up. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 4-6 to go along with an over-under mark of 6-4.

The Lean

For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Sabres to pick up on a win over the Golden Knights at home. With the moneyline sitting at +162, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Sabres straight-up.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Sabres winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Sabres straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.

Sabres Seeking Urgent Response Against Confident Knights

The Buffalo Sabres (29-31-8) look to halt their recent downward spiral when they host the Vegas Golden Knights (39-22-7) on Saturday afternoon. The Sabres enter this matchup in desperate need of a victory, having suffered a demoralizing 7-3 defeat against Detroit on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights travel to Buffalo riding momentum after blanking Columbus 4-0, highlighting contrasting fortunes between these two clubs entering this clash.

Sabres Struggling to Find Consistency

Buffalo enters Saturday’s contest searching for solutions after losing five of their last six games, including a disheartening 7-3 loss at Detroit on Thursday. Recent defeats have highlighted significant defensive vulnerabilities and inconsistent effort levels, leaving head coach Lindy Ruff notably frustrated. Against Detroit, costly turnovers and sloppy puck management in critical situations allowed the Red Wings to repeatedly capitalize on prime scoring chances.

Despite the recent struggles, the Sabres continue to get strong individual performances from star forward Tage Thompson, who recorded his team-leading 34th goal and added an assist against Detroit. Thompson’s offensive consistency remains a bright spot, but the Sabres desperately need improved play from the supporting cast. Zach Benson has provided some additional scoring punch, posting a goal and an assist in the previous game. Newly acquired forward Josh Norris, who scored his first goal since joining from Ottawa, will also be critical in stabilizing Buffalo’s forward depth in the remaining stretch.

Coach Lindy Ruff pinpointed turnovers and lapses in concentration as central reasons for their struggles. Ruff emphasized the importance of increased intensity and a stronger “compete level”—qualities crucial to keeping the Sabres’ faint playoff hopes alive. Buffalo’s effort level and overall execution must significantly improve to have any chance against a deep, disciplined Vegas squad.

Vegas Gaining Momentum at the Right Time

The Golden Knights are trending upward following a dominant 4-0 road victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. Goaltender Adin Hill was superb, posting a 25-save shutout despite Vegas being significantly outshot in the game’s early stages. Hill recently earned a six-year contract extension due to his strong performances, highlighting the franchise’s confidence in his long-term ability to anchor their net.

Brandon Saad contributed offensively in the victory, netting a goal and an assist, while forward Nicolas Roy continued his strong play, scoring on the power play off a slick setup from former Sabre Jack Eichel. Eichel, who has scored points in six consecutive games (2 goals, 8 assists), brings an additional motivation factor against his former team. His ability to influence the game offensively will again be pivotal against Buffalo, adding further intrigue for bettors examining player props or individual scoring markets.

Vegas showed resilience against Columbus, recovering from an early sluggish start to seize control of the game, limiting the Blue Jackets’ scoring chances after an initial surge. The victory snapped a brief two-game losing streak and provided a timely confidence boost. Vegas has now won 10 of their last 14 contests, maintaining pace near the top of the Western Conference playoff standings.

Crucial Goaltending Duel: Hill vs. Sabres’ Tandem

Adin Hill’s recent performances have solidified his role as the Knights’ trusted starter. He comes off a 25-save shutout performance and recently inked a six-year contract extension, reflecting the team’s confidence in his ability to perform consistently in crucial matchups. Hill’s strong recent form—a 1.94 goals-against average in his last eight starts—should give bettors confidence in backing Vegas, particularly considering Buffalo’s defensive struggles.

The Sabres, on the other hand, face goaltending uncertainties. Veteran starter Sam Montembeault, despite solid performances, hasn’t received consistent defensive support. Backup Jakub Dobes struggled heavily against Detroit, conceding five goals. Buffalo must stabilize defensively to protect whoever starts Saturday, as Vegas possesses enough offensive firepower to capitalize on defensive breakdowns. The disparity in goaltending confidence between the two teams could be decisive.

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Expert Prediction and Betting Insight

This afternoon matchup significantly favors Vegas due to their balanced scoring, stronger defensive play, and vastly superior current form. However, the Sabres have offensive talent capable of surprise, especially at home, where Buffalo’s youthful forwards may find energy to match Vegas’ intensity.

Yet, given Buffalo’s inconsistent effort and recent defensive lapses, Vegas presents strong betting value, especially on the money line and puck line markets. Eichel’s ongoing hot streak and Hill’s outstanding form further solidify Vegas as the safer betting choice.