Minnesota Wild vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/17/2026

Game Time: 12:30 pm ET, Saturday, January 17, 2026

Venue:  KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY

Where to Watch:  NHL Network

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Wild +110, Sabres -130; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Wild +110, Sabres -130; Over/Under:  6 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Wild +110, Sabres -130; Over/Under:  6 goals

Minnesota Wild:  26-13-9 (3rd place, Central Division)

Buffalo Sabres:  26-16-4 (4th place, Atlantic Division)

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Minnesota Wild:  4-3-3 last 10

Buffalo Sabres:  8-2-0 last 10

The Wild are entering this game with 61 points, a 26-13-9 record overall, and they are 13-7-3 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Winnipeg Jets in their last game, losing that one at home 6-2. Danila Yurov and Marcus Johansson each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Jake Middleton, Matt Boldy, Ryan Hartman, and Vladimir Tarasenko each led the team in assists with 1 while Jared Spurgeon led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Jesper Wallstedt was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 6 goals on 20 shots with 14 saves and a .700 save percentage before getting pulled and replaced by Filip Gustavsson who stopped all 9 shots he faced. Their offense has scored 150 goals this season averaging 3.1 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 136 goals against them allowing 2.8 goals per game.

The Sabres are entering this game with 56 points, a 26-16-4 record overall, and they are 16-6-2 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Montreal Canadiens in their last game, winning that one at home 5-3. Tage Thompson led the team in goals scored with 3 as he recorded the hattrick while Josh Doan and Alex Tuch each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Tage Thompson and Noah Östlund each led the team in assists with 2 while Mattias Samuelsson led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Colten Ellis was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 23 shots with 20 saves and a .870 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 153 goals this season averaging 3.3 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 143 goals against them allowing 3.1 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Sabres listed as a slight favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Sabres have looked good in their games this season with their 26-16-4 record overall which has them in the top half of their division in the East. They have looked great on home ice too with their 16-6-2 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Wild have looked really good in their games this season with their 26-13-9 record overall which has them right near the top of their division in the West. They have been a good road team too with their 13-7-3 road record this year. The Wild have looked like one of the best teams in the West this season, but lately they haven't been at their best. They are only 4-3-3 in their last 10 games as they have been cooling off lately, and they are off a terrible 6-2 loss at home to the Jets in their last one. They have one of the best defenses in the NHL too, but the Sabres have been rolling in their games lately and they have a really good offense that has been scoring goals. The Sabres are off a 5-3 win over the Canadiens in their last one and they have been rolling lately as they are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games. They have some momentum on their side here with 2 wins in a row now and they are fighting for a playoff spot for the first time in forever. The Sabres have been clicking over the last few weeks so they aren't going to slow down for a Wild team that hasn't been at their best lately, and the Sabres have also looked a lot better on home ice all year. The best way to place a bet here is on the Sabres to win this game. 

Wild Sabres Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Saturday, January 17, 2026 (12:30 pm ET start time) is Sabres 4 Wild 1.

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Minnesota Wild: 27-41 (-7.5 units) on the moneyline as an underdog of +100 to +150. 20-31 (-10.8 units) on the moneyline revenging a loss vs opponent as a home favorite. 41-62 (-13.7 units) on the moneyline when playing against a team with a winning record. 6-2 UNDER on the road after 3 or more consecutive losses.

Buffalo Sabres: 60-45 (+13.6 units) on the moneyline in home games. 28-26 (+9.1 units) on the moneyline when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 60%). 58-65 (+9.9 units) on the moneyline against explosive offensive teams - scoring 3+ goals/game. 8-4 UNDER at home after playing 3 consecutive home games.

Minnesota Wild:  J. Eriksson Ek (C) Day To Day - Undisclosed. J. Brodin (D) Out - Lower Body. Z. Bogosian (D) Out - Undisclosed.

Buffalo Sabres:  J. Norris (C) Day To Day - Ribs. J. Dunne (C) Out - Middle-body. A. Lyon (G) Out - Lower-Body. C. Timmins (D) Out - Leg. J. Kulich (C) Out - Ear. J. Danforth (RW) Out - Lower Body.

“It’s disappointing. No one feels it more than the players. But tonight, it was certain things. It wasn’t a game where you got dominated or you got outplayed, but we talk a lot about being a disciplined team, a focused team, attention to details is critical, and if you’re just taking tonight’s game, those little things matter, and that’s why we enforce them and that’s why usually we’re a good team. And tonight it wasn’t that.” - John Hynes after his team’s loss against the Jets in their game on Thursday.

“There’s nothing that beats winning. This is the most fun I think I’ve had here my entire career. We’ve got something really good going, and it doesn’t feel fabricated. It feels real, and I think everyone in the room believes it as well.” - Tage Thompson after their win against the Canadiens in their game on Thursday.

LW Kirill Kaprizov

C Danila Yurov

RW Mats Zuccarello

LD Quinn Hughes

RD Brock Faber

G Jesper Wallstedt

LW Zach Benson

C Tage Thompson

RW Alex Tuch

LD Mattias Samuelsson

RD Rasmus Dahlin

G Colten Ellis

Points: Kirill Kaprizov (52)

Goals: Matt Boldy (27)

Assists: Kirill Kaprizov (27)

GAA: Filip Gustavsson (2.50)

Points: Tage Thompson (49)

Goals: Tage Thompson (25)

Assists: Rasmus Dahlin (27)

GAA: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (2.59)

Coaches:

Minnesota Wild: John Hynes (3rd season)

Buffalo Sabres: Lindy Ruff (2nd season)