Vancouver Canucks vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, 1/6/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Vancouver Canucks vs Buffalo Sabres

Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Location: KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG Network

Odds/Point Spread: Canucks (+106) Sabres (-128)

The Vancouver Canucks (16-20-5) are on their way to KeyBank Center on Tuesday where they will compete against the Buffalo Sabres (21-15-4). The moneyline on this game has the Canucks at +106 and the Sabres are sitting at -128. The total has been set at 6.5.

The Vancouver Canucks will look for better times on the ice after their 3-2 loss against the Bruins their last time on the ice. Vancouver earned 6 penalty mins in this matchup. The Canucks had a below average offensive outing in this defeat. Furthermore, they had 6 power play attempts and scored 1 goal. In the matchup, they converted 2 out of the 33 shots they put on goal.

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Concerning their scoring capabilities, the Vancouver Canucks have earned 113 goals (26th in the National Hockey League) for the year and have conceded 142. For the season, they have tallied 37 points and their points percentage sits at .451. Vancouver comes into tonight with 138 power play chances and they have notched 28 goals during those advantages, giving them a percentage of 20.29%. At even strength, the Canucks have conceded 107 goals while scoring 85 on the offensive side of the ice. Vancouver has taken 1,095 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 10.3%. The Canucks have had 1,213 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .883. Vancouver Canucks opponents have tallied 134 power play opportunities (9th in the league) and have earned 35 goals in those chances.

The player protecting the goal in this game is Thatcher Demko. Demko has participated in 260 games over the course of his pro hockey career. He has earned a record of 134-97-21 and he has started in 254 games. The opposition has scored 706 goals versus Demko in his professional hockey career and his goals against average per game is 2.78. Demko has had 7,826 shots against him and has recorded 7,120 saves. He has a save percentage of .910 during his 12,869 mins on the ice. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Demko has 141 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .555.

In their last game, Buffalo played the Blue Jackets in a game where the Sabres went home in defeat by a final score of 5-1. They had 5 opportunities on the power play in this game but weren't able to put one in the back of the net. The Sabres notched 1 goal out of the 33 shots on goal they tried.

Buffalo has attempted 1,149 shots (17th in the NHL) and has earned a shooting percentage of 10.62%, while allowing the other team 1,173 shots. They have a penalty kill rate of 85.19% on their opponents 108 power play opportunities, and their save percentage is 89.3%. They have a total of 122 chances on the power play and they have a power play percentage of 18.03%. The Sabres have earned 100 goals at even strength and 22 goals (20th in professional hockey) while having more men on the ice. They have permitted 126 goals to be scored by way of 110 goals at even strength and 16 goals while they had less men on the ice. On the year, the Buffalo Sabres have earned a total of 122 goals, 46 points, and a points percentage of .575.

Across the rink you are going to see Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in net. He has recorded 4,306 saves out of 4,794 shots tried, which gives him a save % of .898. Luukkonen is the owner of a lifetime mark of 78-71-16 and has been in goal for 169 contests. He has made the start in 164 contests and has been on the ice for 8,249 mins. Luukkonen's rate of quality starts comes out to 53.0% and he has accumulated 87 quality starts in his hockey career. His opposition is averaging 2.98 goals per contest and he has yielded 488 goals in total.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Vancouver (+106)

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