Buffalo Sabres vs. St. Louis Blues Picks and Predictions December 29th 2025

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Sabres vs Blues Picks and Predictions – Monday December 29, 2025

Buffalo heads to the Enterprise Center to face St. Louis on Monday night at 8:00 PM on ESPN+. The Sabres are 19-14-4 and playing some of their best hockey of the season, while the Blues are 15-16-8 and still searching for consistent traction in the Central.

The market is basically a pick-em with Buffalo -111 and St. Louis -107, which tells you the book sees two teams in a similar tier once you account for venue and current form. In spots like this, the best edges usually come from roster availability, special teams efficiency, and whether the game script stays structured or breaks into a back-and-forth.

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Buffalo Sabres vs St. Louis Blues Odds

This line is tight enough that any late injury or goalie confirmation can flip the favorite. Keep tracking updated NHL odds because a 6.0 total can move fast if either team announces a different starter than expected.

TeamMoneylinePuck LineTotal
Buffalo Sabres-111+1.5 (-277)6.0
St. Louis Blues-107-1.5 (+217)6.0

Buffalo Sabres Betting Form

Buffalo is rolling right now, and the 4-1 win over Boston is a clean example of what is working. They are getting contributions beyond the headline scorers, and they are defending well enough to keep games from turning into track meets. Alex Lyon’s performance in that one matters too, because Buffalo has been able to win without needing to outscore chaos.

The broader form is hard to ignore. Five straight wins and an under-leaning recent total profile usually means the Sabres are playing a cleaner brand of hockey, not just riding finishing luck. They have also shown they can close tight games, which is a key trait in a near pick-em road spot.

The one concern is the injury list. Buffalo is missing key pieces, and Rasmus Dahlin being out changes their puck-moving and power play sequencing. Check the Buffalo Sabres injury report before you bet, and use Buffalo Sabres stats and results to see how their scoring and possession look without their top defenseman.

St. Louis Blues Betting Form

St. Louis just beat Nashville 3-2, and that type of win is the Blues’ best path in this matchup. They play with enough structure to keep games tight, and at home they can lean into matchups and play a more controlled style through the middle of the ice. Buchnevich and Thomas are the drivers, and when those two are dictating possession, St. Louis looks like a team that can grind out wins even when the offense is not exploding.

Defensively, St. Louis blocks a lot of shots and tends to protect the inside well when the game is played at their pace. That matters against Buffalo because the Sabres can win games by winning the chance quality battle rather than pure shot volume. If the Blues can force Buffalo to settle for looks from the outside, the total becomes more fragile.

The injury report matters on the Blues side too, especially with multiple forwards out. Check the St. Louis Blues injury report and use St. Louis Blues schedule and stats to see how their home results look when they are asked to win games in the 3-2 range.

Buffalo Sabres vs St. Louis Blues Matchup Breakdown

This feels like a game decided by details. Buffalo wants to push pace in spurts and create high-quality chances off speed, while St. Louis prefers to slow entries, get bodies in lanes, and turn it into a possession battle along the walls.

At 5v5, Buffalo’s edge is their ability to create offense from multiple lines. They are not overly dependent on one unit to score, and that is valuable in a road environment where matchups can be tough. St. Louis counters with structure and shot suppression tactics, including blocks and inside positioning, which can keep this game from opening up unless Buffalo gets special teams chances.

Special teams and discipline are the swing. Buffalo can survive a lower-event 5v5 game if they get a power play goal, but St. Louis will happily trade chances if they can keep this mostly at even strength. The total is sitting at 6.0, and that number often comes down to whether the first period is clean or penalty-heavy.

Goaltending is the final variable, and you should not assume it. If Buffalo stays with a confident starter after that Boston win, it supports another under-friendly script. If either team goes to a different option, the total can quickly become the sharper angle than the side.

Buffalo Sabres vs St. Louis Blues Predictions and Best Bets

Buffalo is the team in better form, and I trust their ability to manufacture enough offense to win even if the game is tight. St. Louis can absolutely grind this out at home, but Buffalo’s current streak is built on better defense and more complete lineup contributions, not just one hot scorer.

In terms of wagering, I do not want the heavy puck line juice on Buffalo, and I do not want to chase a plus puck line on St. Louis unless you are specifically expecting a low-scoring one-goal game. The simplest approach is to side with the hotter team at a near pick-em price.

For the total, I see the argument for over because both teams have scorers and 6.0 is a reasonable landing spot, but Buffalo’s recent under trend and St. Louis’ preference for structure keeps me from paying for an over unless the goalie matchup pushes me there.

Best Bet: Buffalo Sabres moneyline (-111)

NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats

If you are comparing opinions across the slate, start with the NHL picks page to see whether bettors are leaning more toward Buffalo’s form or St. Louis’ home structure. If you want to filter for proven results instead of noise, the best handicappers hub is the cleanest place to do it.

To see who is actually delivering right now, check the handicappers leaderboard and look for consistent profit rather than short-term variance. If you prefer packaged cards instead of one-off plays, you can also buy picks and scan more matchups through the NHL previews hub.

For bettors tightening up their approach to totals, special teams, and goaltending impact, the NHL betting guide is a strong framework. And if you are thinking bigger picture on futures, the Stanley Cup betting guide helps map out timing and market movement across the season.