bayesRatings

Sabres at Devils

NHL · Wednesday, Feb 25 · 6:00 PM CT · Prudential Center · Final BUF 2 – NJ 1

Final Box Score

from the game summary
Team123T
BUF0112
NJ0011
Team box
BUF·NJ
30
shots
28
0 of 3
power play
0 of 2
46.3
faceoff %
53.7
21
hits
24
10
blocked shots
13
9
penalty minutes
11
Top performers
PlayerTeamGASOG
Tage ThompsonBUF113
Peyton KrebsBUF111
Timo MeierNJ106
Jesper BrattNJ012
Jack HughesNJ011
Bowen ByramBUF010
Goalies
GoalieTeamSASVSV%
Ukko-Pekka LuukkonenBUF2827.964
Jake AllenNJ3028.933

For context, not in our forecast.

Game Flow

score margin
NJ +3
BUF +3
P1P2P3
largest lead: NJ 0 · BUF 2lead changes: 0

For context, not in our forecast.

Final · our forecast was BUF 52%, NJ 48% · Updated Feb 25

Expected margin
Even
Expected score
BUF 3.1 – 2.7 NJ
Expected total
5.8
SabresThe matchupDevils
−109Our fair odds+109
3.1Expected goals2.7
+0.11Power rating−0.15
3.4Goals / game2.6
3.1Allowed / game3.1
27.6Shots / game29.3
44.6Faceoff %50.3
18.9Hits / game19.3
32−25Season record28−29
6−4Last 104−6

Prediction markets

Kalshi · Polymarket US · ProphetX · Novig
BUF chance · NJ chance
Our model fair52.1%47.9%
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
BUFBuffalo Sabres−10952%————
NJNew Jersey Devils+10948%————
Spreadabout even
BUFBuffalo Sabres−0.4our margin————
NJNew Jersey Devils+0.4our margin————
Totalwe expect 5.8
Over5.8our total————
Under5.8our 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
Buffalo Sabres by 6 goals: 1%Buffalo Sabres by 5 goals: 3%Buffalo Sabres by 4 goals: 7%Buffalo Sabres by 3 goals: 14%Buffalo Sabres by 2 goals: 11%Buffalo Sabres by 1 goal: 17%New Jersey Devils by 1 goal: 26%New Jersey Devils by 2 goals: 8%New Jersey Devils by 3 goals: 8%New Jersey Devils by 4 goals: 4%New Jersey Devils by 5 goals: 1%New Jersey Devils by 6 goals: <1%
← BUF wins byNJ wins by →
Buffalo Sabres wins by 2 or more36%
Buffalo Sabres wins by 3 or more24%
New Jersey Devils wins by 2 or more21%
Decided by one goal43%

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

5.8 expected
1 goals: 2%2 goals: 3%3 goals: 13%4 goals: 9%5 goals: 22%6 goals: 11%7 goals: 18%8 goals: 7%9 goals: 8%10 goals: 2%11 goals: 2%12 goals: 1%13 goals: <1%
Total goals, both teams
Total over 4.572%
Total over 5.549%
Total over 6.538%
Total from 5 to 633%

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
BUFUkko-Pekka Luukkonen G · last 5 starts: .911 save %, 2.80 GAAstarted
NJJake Allen G · last 5 starts: .880 save %, 2.87 GAAstarted

Starting goalies are part of our forecast.

Rest and Schedule

before this game
BUF·NJ
Feb 5 vs PIT
last game
Feb 5 vs NYI
19 days
days of rest
19 days
no
back-to-back
no
0
games in last 7 days
0
road after a home game
home / road
3rd straight home game

For context, not in our forecast.

Team Comparison

2025–26 season · box-score averages from 57+ games
BUF·NJ
+0.11
rating (0 = average)
−0.15
3.4
goals / game
2.6
3.1
goals allowed / game
3.1
32−25
season record
28−29
17−11
home record
13−14
15−14
away record
15−15
L2
streak
L3
6−4
last 10
4−6
27.6
shots / game
29.3
44.6
faceoff %
50.3
18.9
hits / game
19.3
14.8
blocked shots / game
14.5
5.1
takeaways / game
4.7
16.1
giveaways / game
15.5

Rating Trend

BUF · NJ · 112 days
Buffalo SabresNew Jersey Devils
Rating (0 = average team)

Head to Head

last 10 meetings · NJ 6−4
Dec 21, 2025at NJBUF 3 − 1
Nov 28, 2025at BUFNJ 5 − 0
Feb 2, 2025at BUFBUF 4 − 3
Oct 5, 2024at NJNJ 3 − 1
Oct 4, 2024at BUFNJ 4 − 1
Mar 29, 2024at BUFBUF 5 − 2
Nov 25, 2023at NJNJ 7 − 2
Oct 27, 2023at NJNJ 5 − 4
Apr 11, 2023at NJNJ 6 − 2
Mar 24, 2023at BUFBUF 5 − 4

BUF · Last 10

6−4 · streak L2
Feb 5vs PIT2 − 5L
Feb 3at TB3 − 4L
Feb 2at FLA5 − 3W
Jan 31vs MTL2 − 4L
Jan 29vs LA4 − 1W
Jan 27at TOR7 − 4W
Jan 24at NYI5 − 0W
Jan 22at MTL4 − 2W
Jan 20at NSH5 − 3W
Jan 19at CAR1 − 2L

NJ · Last 10

4−6 · streak L3
Feb 5vs NYI1 − 3L
Feb 3vs CBJ0 − 3L
Jan 31at OTT1 − 4L
Jan 29vs NSH3 − 2W
Jan 27vs WPG3 − 4L
Jan 25at SEA2 − 4L
Jan 23at VAN5 − 4W
Jan 20at EDM2 − 1W
Jan 19at CGY2 − 1W
Jan 17vs CAR1 − 4L