Minnesota Wild vs Buffalo Sabres Picks and Predictions March 22nd 2025

Minnesota Wild vs Buffalo Sabres March 22nd 2025

Betting on today’s Sabres and Wild game? Catch the action at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN, as the Wild hosts this showdown at 2:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this game is set at 5.5 goals, and the Wild are favored by -1.5 vs. the Sabres in a non-conference matchup.

Looking For The Latest In Gambling? It’s All On Gambling News.

Buffalo vs. Minnesota Key Information

• Teams: Sabres at Wild
• Where: Xcel Energy Center St. Paul
• Date: Saturday, March 22nd
• Betting Odds MIN -145 | BUF +124 O/U 5.5

The Sabres Can Win If…

Buffalo fell to 27-34-6 with a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings. The Sabres held a 1-0 lead after the first period, but Detroit responded with two goals in the second. Buffalo entered as the underdog on the puck line, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short of that mark.

Alex Tuch scored the Sabres’ only goal, coming at 11:39 in the first period. It was a short-handed goal, as Buffalo failed to find the net with their power play. The Red Wings tied it up at 7:49 in the second period and took the lead later in the same period, both goals coming on the power play.

Buffalo’s offense struggled in their 2-1 loss to the Red Wings, with Alex Tuch netting the team’s only goal on a shorthanded effort. The Sabres fired 32 shots on goal, but none found the net after Tuch’s 5th goal of the season, which came at 8:21 in the first period.

Buffalo failed to convert on the power play and recorded 13 giveaways. Tuch took five shots on goal in the game.

Buffalo’s defense will look to bounce back after giving up two second-period goals to the Red Wings, both on the power play. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, and the Sabres’ defense added 5 takeaways and 17 hits.

• Over their last three games, the Sabres have gone 2-1 straight up. In addition, their puck line record over this stretch is 2-1 while posting a 2-1 over-under mark.
• Across Buffalo’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 3-7. Their record vs the puck line sits at 5-5 in these matchups, while posting a 6-4 over-under mark.

Stay Ahead Of The Competition—Explore The Expert Betting Guide Now.

The Wild Can Win If…

With a 2-1 overtime win against the Maple Leafs, the Wild improved to 39-25-5. Minnesota, favored on the puck line, didn’t cover, and the total was set at 6 goals, but the teams combined for just 3.

Ryan Hartman opened the scoring at 10:19 in the first period, but William Nylander tied it for Toronto with 52 seconds left in the period. Matt Boldy’s goal at 2:14 in overtime secured the win for the Wild.

In their 2-1 overtime win against the Maple Leafs, the Wild’s offense took 33 shots on goal but only found the net twice. Ryan Hartman scored his third goal of the season at 9:41 in the first period, while Matt Boldy added his sixth goal, which came 2:14 into overtime.

Jared Spurgeon picked up two assists, bringing his season total to three. Marco Rossi earned his seventh assist on Boldy’s overtime goal. The Wild had 15 giveaways in the game.

Defensively, the Wild gave up a late goal in the first period, but they held the Maple Leafs scoreless after that, leading to a 2-1 overtime win. Filip Gustavsson made 27 saves with a 96.4% save percentage, and the Wild’s defense added 7 takeaways and 22 hits.

• Over their last three games, the Wild have gone 2-1 straight up. In these games, they have a 2-1 record vs the puck line and an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Minnesota has put together a record of 5-5 in their last ten games (regular season). In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 5-5 and an over-under mark of 3-7.

The Lean

For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Wild to pick up on a win over the Sabres at home. With the moneyline sitting at -145, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Wild straight-up.

When it comes to my suggested pick for the puck line, I’d advise taking the Sabres to cover. Even in the event of a Wild victory, this matchup is likely to remain closely contested, and the Sabres should cover the puck line.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 5.5 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

Struggling With NHL Bets?

Discover The Edge That Smart Bettors Use!

Sign Up!

Wild Look to Stay Hot Against Slumping Sabres

The Minnesota Wild appear to have found their stride again, and they’ll look to extend their winning streak to three games when they host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday in Saint Paul.

Minnesota (39-25-5, 83 points) is coming off back-to-back victories, including a dominant 4-0 shutout over the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday. The Wild erupted for three goals in the opening five minutes of that game—scoring those within a lightning-fast span of less than two minutes.

“To see a couple go in quick like that was nice for everyone out there,” said forward Matt Boldy, who scored twice in the win. “Hopefully that kind of breaks the seal a little bit and see a little bit more goals go in.”

Boldy’s goals were his first since February 22, and they helped fuel a Wild offense that had been struggling. Prior to this recent surge, Minnesota had dropped four of five games while getting outscored 15-7. But with seven goals in their last two outings and a renewed offensive spark, the Wild are showing signs of life at the right time.

Wild in the Thick of the Playoff Race

Minnesota currently holds the first wild card spot in the Western Conference and remains just four points behind the Colorado Avalanche for third in the Central Division—with a game in hand. With the playoff picture tightening, every point is crucial.

There’s also potential good news on the injury front. Head coach John Hynes said there’s a “strong possibility” that defenseman Jonas Brodin and forwards Marco Rossi and Marcus Johansson could return to the lineup Saturday, though he stopped short of confirming it.

Sabres Searching for Consistency

The Buffalo Sabres (27-34-6, 60 points) come in with far less momentum. Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club summed up their season: promising moments undone by costly mistakes. Buffalo tied the game twice before giving up two late goals, including an unfortunate own-goal into an empty net during a delayed penalty.

“I didn’t know it was a delayed penalty, or I would have just given it to them,” said center Tage Thompson, who misfired on a pass that turned into Utah’s clinching goal. “Bad play by me and even worse result.”

The Sabres began the season with postseason hopes, but now they’re unlikely to even match last year’s 84-point finish. Their 14-year playoff drought looks destined to stretch into 15, despite some late-season improvements on special teams.

The Best Picks Come From The Best Experts—Follow The Best Handicappers Now!

“Our special teams the last few games have been a bright spot for us,” said head coach Lindy Ruff, noting the Sabres have gone 5-for-14 (35.7%) on the power play over their last four games.

Still, the team’s overall inconsistency and lack of execution in key moments continue to plague them.

If you’re tracking late-season NHL predictions or weighing playoff race matchups, don’t miss out on expert NHL picks and breakdowns to stay sharp as the postseason nears.