Betting tips from AI for New Jersey Devils vs Buffalo Sabres, 22 December 2025.

Buffalo Sabres at 2.90 is the clear value play against New Jersey (2.12). BetQL gives Buffalo a 52.1% edge — that projection leans on Ukko‑Pekka Luukkonen's slight goaltending advantage (.897 vs Jacob Markstrom's .893) and Buffalo's 3.5 goals per game, which can exploit New Jersey's defensive leaks.

The Devils are hot (19-14-1, 3-2 L5) and enjoy home ice, but the market is essentially split 50-50 and an AI model even forecasts a Sabres upset. Backing Buffalo at +190 represents an expected-value bet here; the price overstates the risk relative to the reported edge.

The New Jersey Devils are riding a wave of confidence, boasting a 19-14-1 record and impressive wins over Vegas and Anaheim recently. Playing at the Prudential Center, they are the bookmakers' favorite at 2.12. However, don't let that dissuade you from the Buffalo Sabres. Despite their 15-14-4 standing, betting experts at BetQL give Buffalo a significant 52.1% edge, citing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's slightly superior save percentage. An AI model from CappersPicks boldly predicts a 5-3 Sabres upset, highlighting their potent offense which averages 3.5 goals per game. While their defense leaks 3.9 goals, the Sabres have the firepower, led by Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin, to exploit any Devils' vulnerabilities. With the public split 50-50 and the Sabres offering compelling value at 2.90, this looks like a prime opportunity to back the underdog with a high payout potential, especially when even some shops have them as favorites at 1.91.

The Devils (19-14-1) enter this matchup with momentum after impressive wins over Vegas and Anaheim, but Buffalo's offensive firepower (3.5 goals per game) makes them dangerous underdogs at 2.90. While New Jersey has the home advantage at Prudential Center, the Sabres' goaltending edge with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.897 save percentage vs. Markstrom's .893) could be decisive in a tight contest.

Betting models are leaning Buffalo's way, with BetQL giving them a 52.1% win probability and CappersPicks projecting a 5-3 Sabres victory. The Devils' offensive threats Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier will challenge Buffalo's leaky defense (3.9 goals allowed per game), but Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin provide enough firepower for Buffalo to overcome.

With the public split 50-50 on this matchup and Buffalo favored on some moneylines, the value play is on the Sabres to continue their scoring ways and secure a road upset against a Devils team that might be due for regression.

The Prudential Center is set for a festive clash on December 22, but this NHL matchup between the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres promises more fireworks than holiday cheer. The Devils, boasting a solid 19-14-1 record, are riding momentum from gritty road wins over Vegas (2-1) and a dominant 4-1 thrashing of Anaheim, going 3-2 in their last five. Jack Hughes is projected for 4.2 shots, with Nico Hischier eyeing 0.5 goals to fuel the home attack.

Yet, Buffalo Sabres lurk as the sneaky value play here. At 15-14-4, they've won four of their last 10, averaging a scorching 3.5 goals per game despite a leaky defense conceding 3.9. Betting experts at BetQL hand them a 52.1% edge, citing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's .897 save percentage topping Jacob Markstrom's .893. An AI model from CappersPicks even forecasts a bold 5-3 Sabres upset, with Tage Thompson (0.53 goals projected) and Rasmus Dahlin (55% chance at a point) leading the charge.

Odds reflect the Devils as slight favorites at 2.12, but Buffalo at 2.90 screams underdog value—especially with public bets split 50-50 and some shops listing Sabres at -110. In a league where hot offenses prevail, I'll back the Sabres to steal this one on the road, turning my $1 bet into serious holiday profit.

Despite New Jersey's 19-14-1 record and home ice, Buffalo's 2.90 odds offer sharp value. BetQL experts give the Sabres a 52.1% edge, citing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's .897 save percentage over Jacob Markstrom's .893, while an AI model predicts a 5-3 upset. Buffalo's offense fires at 3.5 goals per game, and with Tage Thompson leading the charge, they can exploit the Devils' occasional lapses.

New Jersey rides momentum from recent wins, but the Sabres' goaltending advantage and high-scoring potential tilt this tightly split public bet. Expect a back-and-forth clash where Buffalo's firepower secures a narrow victory.

This matchup between the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres presents a fascinating clash of styles, with both teams bringing strengths and vulnerabilities into the contest. The Sabres, despite their middling 15-14-4 record, have shown offensive firepower, averaging 3.5 goals per game, while Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin provide credible threats to exploit any defensive lapses. However, their leaky defense, conceding 3.9 goals per game, could be their undoing against a Devils team that has been more consistent overall at 19-14-1.

Buffalo’s goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen holds a slight edge statistically over Jacob Markstrom, but recent performances tell a fuller story. The Devils are coming off impressive wins, including a gritty 2-1 victory over Vegas and a dominant 4-1 showing against Anaheim. Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier lead a balanced attack that thrives on precision and opportunism. With Hughes projected for 4.2 shots and Hischier eyeing 0.5 goals, New Jersey’s ability to capitalize on scoring chances could prove decisive.

The odds reflect a closely contested game, with the Devils listed at 2.12, the Sabres at 2.90, and a draw at 4.20. Betting experts lean slightly toward Buffalo due to their predicted two-goal upset, but the public split suggests uncertainty. Given New Jersey’s superior form, solid defense, and home-ice advantage at Prudential Center, backing the Devils appears to be the smarter play in what promises to be a high-scoring affair.

Ultimately, the Devils’ consistency and stronger recent performances give them the edge in this matchup.