Minnesota Wild vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, 1/17/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Minnesota Wild vs Buffalo Sabres

Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026

Location: KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG Network

The Minnesota Wild (26-12-9) are traveling to KeyBank Center on Saturday where they will take on the Buffalo Sabres (25-16-4).

The Minnesota Wild were on the losing side of the ice with a 5-2 defeat to the Devils in their previous game. The Wild could have played much better offensively in the loss. In the matchup, they scored on 2 out of the 22 shots they looked to score on. In addition, they had 2 power play chances and were able to score 1 goal. Minnesota had 4 penalty minutes in this outing.

Regarding scoring goals, the Minnesota Wild have racked up 145 goals (14th in the league) on the campaign and have given up 127. For the current campaign, they have recorded 61 points and their points percentage is sitting at .649. Minnesota comes into the game with 154 power play opportunities and they have notched 35 goals out of those chances, garnering them a percentage of 22.73%. When playing at even strength, the Wild have surrendered 102 goals while notching 110 when they are on offense. Minnesota has tried 1,343 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 10.8%. The Wild so far have had 1,395 shots attempted against them and have earned a save percentage of .909. Minnesota Wild opponents have tallied 112 power play tries (31st in pro hockey) and have notched 25 goals in those chances.

Patrolling the crease for the game will be Jesper Wallstedt. For his professional hockey career, Wallstedt has tallied 15 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .625. He has a save percentage of .913 in his 314 mins on the ice. Wallstedt has seen 736 shots taken against him and has gathered 672 saves. The opposition has notched 64 goals against Wallstedt in his pro hockey career and his goals against rate is 2.67. He has accumulated an overall mark of 14-6-4 and he started in 24 games. Wallstedt has taken the ice for 24 matchups during his hockey career.

When they were on the ice last, Buffalo faced the Flyers in a game where the Sabres took home the win by a tally of 5-2. The Sabres tallied 5 goals of the 14 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 6 power play chances in this game and tallied 2 out of those opportunities.

So far this season, the Buffalo Sabres have earned a total of 145 goals, 54 points, as well as a points percentage of .600. They have allowed 140 goals to be scored by way of 121 goals at even strength and 19 goals while they had less men on the ice. The Sabres have scored 120 goals at even strength and 25 goals (20th in the NHL) while having a power play advantage. They have a tally of 135 chances on the power play and they have earned a power play rate of 18.52%. Buffalo has taken 1,259 shots (20th in professional hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 11.52%, while allowing the other team 1,332 shots. They have accumulated a penalty kill rate of 84.55% on their opponents 123 power play opportunities, and their save percentage comes in at 89.5%.

Across the ice you are likely to see Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen defending the net. Luukkonen has compiled a career record of 81-71-16 and has been in net for 172 games. Luukkonen's percentage of quality starts comes out to 53.9% and he has accumulated 90 quality starts in his pro career. He is sitting with 4,393 stops out of the 4,889 shots attempted against him, which gives him a save percentage of .899. His opposition is averaging 2.97 goals per contest and he has yielded 496 goals overall. He got the starting nod in 167 contests and has been on the ice for 8,256 mins.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Minnesota

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