bayesRatings

Sabres at Golden Knights

NHL · Tuesday, Mar 17 · 9:00 PM CT · T-Mobile Arena · Final BUF 2 – VGK 0

Final Box Score

from the game summary
Team123T
BUF1012
VGK0000
Team box
BUF·VGK
25
shots
29
0 of 2
power play
0 of 3
49.2
faceoff %
50.8
19
hits
28
14
blocked shots
12
8
penalty minutes
6
Top performers
PlayerTeamGASOG
Josh NorrisBUF105
Josh DoanBUF103
Mattias SamuelssonBUF011
Peyton KrebsBUF010
Goalies
GoalieTeamSASVSV%
Ukko-Pekka LuukkonenBUF29291.000
Adin HillVGK2423.958

For context, not in our forecast.

Game Flow

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

For context, not in our forecast.

Final · our forecast was BUF 50%, VGK 50% · Updated Mar 17

Expected margin
Even
Expected score
VGK 3.2 – 3.2 BUF
Expected total
6.5
SabresThe matchupGolden Knights
+101Our fair odds−101
3.2Expected goals3.2
+0.22Power rating+0.07
3.5Goals / game3.3
3.0Allowed / game3.1
28.2Shots / game28.4
45.3Faceoff %50.8
19.0Hits / game21.0
41−26Season record31−36
9−1Last 104−6

Prediction markets

Kalshi · Polymarket US · ProphetX · Novig
BUF chance · VGK chance
Our model fair49.8%50.2%
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+10150%————
VGKVegas Golden Knights−10150%————
Spreadabout even
BUFBuffalo SabresPKour margin————
VGKVegas Golden KnightsPKour margin————
Totalwe expect 6.5
Over6.5our total————
Under6.5our 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: 2%Buffalo Sabres by 4 goals: 6%Buffalo Sabres by 3 goals: 11%Buffalo Sabres by 2 goals: 10%Buffalo Sabres by 1 goal: 20%Vegas Golden Knights by 1 goal: 21%Vegas Golden Knights by 2 goals: 10%Vegas Golden Knights by 3 goals: 11%Vegas Golden Knights by 4 goals: 6%Vegas Golden Knights by 5 goals: 2%Vegas Golden Knights by 6 goals: <1%
← BUF wins byVGK wins by →
Vegas Golden Knights wins by 2 or more29%
Vegas Golden Knights wins by 3 or more20%
Buffalo Sabres wins by 2 or more29%
Decided by one goal41%

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

6.5 expected
1 goals: 1%2 goals: 2%3 goals: 9%4 goals: 7%5 goals: 20%6 goals: 11%7 goals: 19%8 goals: 8%9 goals: 11%10 goals: 4%11 goals: 4%12 goals: 1%13 goals: 1%14 goals: <1%
Total goals, both teams
Total over 5.561%
Total over 6.550%
Total over 7.530%
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
BUFUkko-Pekka Luukkonen G · last 5 starts: .917 save %, 2.63 GAAstarted
VGKAdin Hill G · last 5 starts: .907 save %, 2.00 GAAstarted

Starting goalies are part of our forecast.

Rest and Schedule

before this game
BUF·VGK
Mar 14 vs TOR
last game
Mar 14 vs CHI
2 days
days of rest
2 days
no
back-to-back
no
3
games in last 7 days
3
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 67+ games
BUF·VGK
+0.22
rating (0 = average)
+0.07
3.5
goals / game
3.3
3.0
goals allowed / game
3.1
41−26
season record
31−36
22−12
home record
16−17
19−14
away record
15−19
W1
streak
W2
9−1
last 10
4−6
28.2
shots / game
28.4
45.3
faceoff %
50.8
19.0
hits / game
21.0
14.6
blocked shots / game
14.8
5.1
takeaways / game
4.4
15.9
giveaways / game
16.2

Rating Trend

BUF · VGK · 132 days
Buffalo SabresVegas Golden Knights
Rating (0 = average team)

Head to Head

last 9 meetings · VGK 3−6
Mar 3at BUFBUF 3 − 2
Mar 15, 2025at BUFBUF 4 − 3 SO
Jan 4, 2025at VGKVGK 3 − 1
Mar 2, 2024at BUFBUF 7 − 2
Dec 15, 2023at VGKBUF 5 − 2
Dec 19, 2022at VGKBUF 3 − 2
Nov 10, 2022at BUFVGK 7 − 4
Mar 10, 2022at BUFBUF 3 − 1
Feb 1, 2022at VGKVGK 5 − 2

BUF · Last 10

9−1 · streak W1
Mar 14vs TOR3 − 2W
Mar 12vs WSH1 − 2L
Mar 10vs SJ6 − 3W
Mar 8vs TB8 − 7W
Mar 7vs NSH3 − 2W
Mar 5at PIT5 − 1W
Mar 3vs VGK3 − 2W
Feb 28at TB6 − 2W
Feb 27at FLA3 − 2W
Feb 25at NJ2 − 1W

VGK · Last 10

4−6 · streak W2
Mar 14vs CHI4 − 0W
Mar 12vs PIT6 − 2W
Mar 10at DAL1 − 2L
Mar 8vs EDM2 − 4L
Mar 6vs MIN2 − 4L
Mar 4at DET4 − 3W
Mar 3at BUF2 − 3L
Mar 1at PIT0 − 5L
Feb 27at WSH2 − 3L
Feb 25at LA6 − 4W