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The Buffalo Sabres head to Bridgestone Arena to face the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 8:00 PM on ESPN+. Buffalo is 26-18-5 and sitting 6th in the Eastern Conference, which is a pretty healthy spot, but it is not comfortable. Nashville is 23-21-4 and 11th in the Western Conference, and this feels like a game they need to stabilize after getting run out in their last one.
Buffalo is coming off a 2-1 loss to Carolina, a game where they competed but just did not finish enough. Nashville is trying to shake off a brutal 7-2 loss to Vegas, and those games can linger. Sometimes you tighten up the next night. Sometimes you spiral for another week. From a betting angle, this is really about which team brings structure early, because both can score when the game opens up.
The market has Nashville favored at -132 with Buffalo coming back at +110. The total is 6.5, with the Over priced close to even money. If goalie news breaks in a surprising direction, that is the one piece that can change the entire handicap late.
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Buffalo Sabres vs Nashville Predators Odds
These are the current betting lines, but prices can move quickly on game day, so always monitor the latest NHL odds at the Buffalo Sabres vs Nashville Predators odds before locking anything in.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Sabres | +110 | N/A | O 6.5 (-102) |
| Nashville Predators | -132 | N/A | U 6.5 (-122) |
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Buffalo Sabres Betting Form
Buffalo is still in a strong position overall at 26-18-5, and I like the way they generally play when games get serious. Even in that 2-1 loss to Carolina, there were signs: Rasmus Dahlin scores, throws hits, blocks shots, and the team is not afraid to grind when the goals are not there. Tage Thompson piling up six shots in a low-scoring game is also the kind of detail I pay attention to. That is repeatable pressure.
From a betting standpoint, Buffalo’s edge is that their offense is not one-line dependent. Thompson (25 goals, 25 assists) and Alex Tuch (17 goals, 23 assists) give them multiple ways to get to three goals, and that matters because their best results tend to show up when they hit that number. The trends back it up too: 7-3 straight up and 8-2 on the puck line in their last 10 games. That is not nothing.
Nashville Predators Betting Form
Nashville’s profile is a little messier right now. The record (23-21-4) is not disastrous, and home ice at Bridgestone usually helps them play a cleaner game. But coming off a 7-2 loss to Vegas, you have to ask what broke down. If it was mainly puck management and penalties, that can be fixed quickly. If it was coverage and pace, that tends to spill into the next game too.
There are still reasons to respect them. Their power play production is solid, ranking 12th with 29 power play goals, and they have legit finishers. Steven Stamkos has 21 goals, Ryan O’Reilly leads them with 44 points, and Filip Forsberg is still the kind of player who can tilt a game with two shifts. The issue is consistency. When Nashville gets behind, they sometimes start chasing, and that is when the totals get noisy.
Buffalo Sabres vs Nashville Predators Matchup Breakdown
This matchup feels like a pace battle more than anything. Buffalo is comfortable playing fast when the game is there, and they have the shooters to turn volume into goals. Nashville, especially at home, tends to want a more controlled game where they can lean on structure, get their special teams looks, and let Saros do his thing. If Buffalo dictates tempo, the +110 starts to look attractive. If Nashville slows it down and wins the special teams battle, -132 is reasonable.
The special teams angle is real here. Nashville’s power play has been productive, and Buffalo’s injury situation could force awkward usage on the kill. That is the path Nashville probably wants. Buffalo’s path is more five-on-five driven: pressure, shots, and forcing Nashville into mistakes that turn into transition looks. If Buffalo’s top guys are generating chances without needing power plays, the dog becomes live quickly.
The total at 6.5 is also tied to game state. Nashville is coming off a game that went off the rails defensively, and Buffalo has been trending Over lately (Over in 4 of the last 5). If you think Nashville responds with a tighter, more conservative approach, Under 6.5 makes sense but the price is heavier. If you think the game stays open, Over at near even money is the more appealing side of the number. For bettors who like to think in terms of structure, special teams, and game script, the NHL betting guide is a solid refresher, and the Stanley Cup betting strategies page is useful for thinking about how to price volatility and momentum spots.
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Buffalo Sabres vs Nashville Predators Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Buffalo at +110. It is not a “they are clearly better” type of pick, it is more a value call. Buffalo is the team with the stronger overall season, they have been winning more often lately, and I trust their ability to create offense even when the game is not perfect. +110 is the kind of price where you do not need everything to go right to justify it.
Nashville can absolutely win this, especially if the game turns into a special teams night and Saros is the confirmed starter. But I do not love laying -132 with a team coming off a 7-2 loss unless I have a very specific reason to believe the bounce-back is immediate and clean. Sometimes it is, sure. Sometimes it is not, and you are paying for the badge more than the matchup.
On the total, I lean Over 6.5 at -102, mostly because both teams have paths to scoring and the recent trends suggest these games are not staying quiet. Buffalo can drive shots and turn pressure into goals, and Nashville’s power play gives them a scoring floor at home. The Under is logical if you are betting on a tight Nashville response, but laying -122 in a game that can get loose fast is not my favorite way to live.
Best Bet: Over 6.5 (-102).
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
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