Buffalo Sabres vs New Jersey Devils Prediction, 12/21/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs New Jersey Devils

Date: Sunday, December 21, 2025

Location: Prudential Center in Newark, NJ

TV: MSG+

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+150) Devils (-182)

Prudential Center is the location where the New Jersey Devils (19-14-1) will attempt to beat the Buffalo Sabres (15-14-4) on Sunday. The moneyline on this game has the Sabres at +150 and the Devils are opening at -182. The total comes in at 6.5.

The Buffalo Sabres were on the right side of the scoreboard with a 5-3 victory over the Flyers in their previous game. The Sabres had a good offensive outing and it showed in the victory. In the matchup, they converted 5 of the 28 shots they put on goal. Furthermore, they had 5 power play opportunities and were able to net 1 goal. Buffalo recorded 6 mins in the box in this game.

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In terms of their goal scoring prowess, the Buffalo Sabres have tallied 101 goals (18th in the NHL) on the year and have allowed 112. For the year, they have racked up 34 points and their points % is .515. Buffalo is sitting with 104 power play opportunities and they have notched 21 goals out of those tries, earning them a percentage of 20.19%. At even strength, the Sabres have allowed the opponent to score 98 goals while scoring 80 on the offensive side of the ice. Buffalo has tried 935 shots and holds a shot percentage of 10.8%. The Sabres thus far have had 981 shots tried against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .886. Buffalo Sabres opponents have totaled 96 power play opportunities (21st in professional hockey) and have scored 14 goals in those attempts.

The player in the crease for this game is Alex Lyon. Opponents have been able to score 351 goals against Lyon in his pro career and his goals against rate is 3.03. Lyon has participated in 131 games over the course of his hockey career. His save percentage is at .902 in his 6,029 mins played. He has compiled a mark of 58-44-14 and he has started in 116 games. In his professional hockey career, Lyon has 61 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .526. Lyon has had 3,586 shots against him and has gathered 3,235 saves.

In their last outing, New Jersey opposed the Golden Knights in a matchup where the Devils got the tie by a final score of 1-1. They had 2 attempts on the power play in this outing but were not able to net one. The Devils recorded 1 goal of the 33 shots on goal they attempted.

New Jersey has attempted 1,001 shots (8th in the league) and has a shot percentage of 9.59%, while allowing their opponents 972 shots. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 75.79% on their oppositions 95 power play chances, and their save percentage currently sits at 89.3%. They have a tally of 86 power play opportunities and they have a power play percentage of 20.93%. The Devils have accumulated 78 goals at even strength and 18 goals (21st in the NHL) while having more men on the ice. They have allowed 104 goals to be scored by of a combination of 81 goals at even strength and 23 goals while they were shorthanded. On the season, the New Jersey Devils have accounted for 96 goals, 39 points, in addition to a points percentage of .574.

Across the rink you are going to see Jacob Markstrom in net. He has recorded 14,102 stops out of 15,543 shots tried, giving him a save percentage of .907. Markstrom has accrued a career mark of 249-219-64 and has played in 551 games. He has made the start in 533 games and has played for a total of 28,341 minutes. Markstrom's quality start percentage is 52.3% and he has 279 quality starting assignments in his hockey career. His opposition is averaging 2.70 goals per game and he has yielded 1,441 goals altogether.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take New Jersey (-182)

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