bayesRatings

Wild at Sabres

NHL · Saturday, Jan 17 · 11:30 AM CT · KeyBank Center · Final MIN 5 – BUF 4

Final Box Score

from the game summary
Team123OTT
MIN22015
BUF13004
Team box
MIN·BUF
36
shots
24
1 of 4
power play
1 of 4
55.2
faceoff %
44.8
31
hits
21
9
blocked shots
16
15
penalty minutes
15
Top performers
Goalies
GoalieTeamSASVSV%
Filip GustavssonMIN2420.833
Ukko-Pekka LuukkonenBUF3631.861

For context, not in our forecast.

Game Flow

score margin
BUF +3
MIN +3
P1P2P3OT
largest lead: BUF 1 · MIN 2lead changes: 2

For context, not in our forecast.

Final · our forecast was MIN 48%, BUF 52% · Updated Jan 17

Expected margin
Even
Expected score
BUF 3.2 – 3.1 MIN
Expected total
6.3
WildThe matchupSabres
+110Our fair odds−110
3.1Expected goals3.2
+0.08Power rating+0.01
3.1Goals / game3.3
2.8Allowed / game3.1
28.7Shots / game28.0
46.6Faceoff %44.9
20.9Hits / game18.9
26−22Season record26−20
4−6Last 108−2

Prediction markets

Kalshi · Polymarket US · ProphetX · Novig
MIN chance · BUF chance
Our model fair47.6%52.4%
Kalshino two-sided price
Polymarket USno two-sided price
ProphetXno two-sided price
Novigno two-sided price
Full price table
TeamOur modelfairKalshi Polymarket US ProphetX Novig 
Moneyline
MINMinnesota Wild+11048%————
BUFBuffalo Sabres−11052%————
Spreadabout even
MINMinnesota Wild+0.1our margin————
BUFBuffalo Sabres−0.1our margin————
Totalwe expect 6.3
Over6.3our total————
Under6.3our total————

These are each venue’s last prices before the start (Kalshi’s moneyline: its pre-game close). Odds are the price to buy that side now, taker fee included; the small percent is the implied chance of that same price. Highlighted is the best price in the row among venues on the same line. — means not listed (hover or tap for why). A market price is not the true chance of winning.

Margin range

Even game expected
Minnesota Wild by 6 goals: <1%Minnesota Wild by 5 goals: 2%Minnesota Wild by 4 goals: 5%Minnesota Wild by 3 goals: 11%Minnesota Wild by 2 goals: 9%Minnesota Wild by 1 goal: 20%Buffalo Sabres by 1 goal: 22%Buffalo Sabres by 2 goals: 10%Buffalo Sabres by 3 goals: 12%Buffalo Sabres by 4 goals: 6%Buffalo Sabres by 5 goals: 2%Buffalo Sabres by 6 goals: <1%
← MIN wins byBUF wins by →
Buffalo Sabres wins by 2 or more30%
Buffalo Sabres wins by 3 or more20%
Minnesota Wild wins by 2 or more28%
Decided by one goal42%

Centered on the expected margin above; shape from each team's expected goals, with ties after regulation settled as one-goal games, matched to 7,066 past NHL games.

Total range

6.3 expected
1 goals: 2%2 goals: 2%3 goals: 10%4 goals: 8%5 goals: 20%6 goals: 11%7 goals: 19%8 goals: 8%9 goals: 10%10 goals: 3%11 goals: 4%12 goals: 1%13 goals: 1%
Total goals, both teams
Total over 5.558%
Total over 6.547%
Total over 7.527%
Total from 6 to 730%

Centered on the expected total above; shape from each team's expected goals, with ties after regulation settled as one-goal games, matched to 7,066 past NHL games.

Starting Goalies

from the box score
MINFilip Gustavsson G · last 5 starts: .902 save %, 2.81 GAAstarted
BUFUkko-Pekka Luukkonen G · last 5 starts: .918 save %, 2.61 GAAstarted

Starting goalies are part of our forecast.

Rest and Schedule

before this game
MIN·BUF
Jan 15 vs WPG
last game
Jan 15 vs MTL
1 day
days of rest
1 day
no
back-to-back
no
3
games in last 7 days
4
road after a home game
home / road
5th straight home game

For context, not in our forecast.

Team Comparison

2025–26 season · box-score averages from 46+ games
MIN·BUF
+0.08
rating (0 = average)
+0.01
3.1
goals / game
3.3
2.8
goals allowed / game
3.1
26−22
season record
26−20
13−12
home record
16−8
13−10
away record
10−12
L3
streak
W2
4−6
last 10
8−2
28.7
shots / game
28.0
46.6
faceoff %
44.9
20.9
hits / game
18.9
15.8
blocked shots / game
15.0
4.6
takeaways / game
5.2
15.0
giveaways / game
16.0

Rating Trend

MIN · BUF · 92 days
Minnesota WildBuffalo Sabres
Rating (0 = average team)

Head to Head

last 9 meetings · BUF 6−3
Nov 29, 2025at MINBUF 3 − 2 SO
Mar 22, 2025at MINMIN 4 − 1
Nov 27, 2024at BUFMIN 1 − 0
Feb 17, 2024at MINBUF 3 − 2 OT
Nov 10, 2023at BUFBUF 3 − 2
Jan 28, 2023at MINMIN 3 − 2 SO
Jan 7, 2023at BUFBUF 6 − 5 OT
Mar 4, 2022at BUFBUF 5 − 4
Dec 16, 2021at MINBUF 3 − 2 SO

MIN · Last 10

4−6 · streak L3
Jan 15vs WPG2 − 6L
Jan 12vs NJ2 − 5L
Jan 10vs NYI3 − 4L
Jan 8at SEA3 − 2W
Jan 5at LA2 − 4L
Jan 3at LA4 − 5L
Jan 2at ANA5 − 2W
Dec 31, 2025at SJ3 − 4L
Dec 29, 2025at VGK5 − 2W
Dec 27, 2025at WPG4 − 3W

BUF · Last 10

8−2 · streak W2
Jan 15vs MTL5 − 3W
Jan 14vs PHI5 − 2W
Jan 12vs FLA3 − 4L
Jan 10vs ANA5 − 3W
Jan 8at NYR5 − 2W
Jan 6vs VAN5 − 3W
Jan 3at CBJ1 − 5L
Dec 31, 2025at DAL4 − 1W
Dec 29, 2025at STL4 − 2W
Dec 27, 2025vs BOS4 − 1W