Polymarket

Sabres Heavily Favored on Polymarket as Islanders Face Uphill Battle in Critical Matchup

The Buffalo Sabres are strong favorites on Polymarket for their March 31 clash against the New York Islanders, reflecting Buffalo's solid playoff positioning and the Islanders' recent struggles and injury woes.

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— 3 min read

The prediction market on Polymarket for the NHL game between the New York Islanders and the Buffalo Sabres, scheduled for March 31 at 7:00 PM ET, shows a significant lean towards the Sabres. With a substantial trading volume of $1,461,061, the current prices reflect outcomes of 0.355 for the Islanders and 0.645 for the Sabres, indicating that the market perceives Buffalo as having approximately a 64.5% chance of winning this pivotal contest.

This matchup carries considerable weight for both franchises in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Sabres, boasting a strong 45-21-8 record (98 points), are currently second in the Atlantic Division and are locked in a battle for the top spot, even holding a tie in points with the Tampa Bay Lightning. They recently snapped a three-game winless skid with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, showcasing their resilience. Key offensive threats for Buffalo include Tage Thompson, who leads the team with 37 goals, 39 assists, and 76 points this season. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the likely starter, having posted a 3-1-1 record with a .937 save percentage in his last five appearances. Furthermore, the Sabres' penalty kill ranks fifth in the league at 82.0%.

Conversely, the New York Islanders (42-28-5, 89 points) are in a more precarious position, holding onto the third spot in the Metropolitan Division amid a tight playoff chase. Their momentum took a severe hit on Monday night, suffering an 8-3 blowout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In that game, starting goaltender Ilya Sorokin allowed a career-high seven goals before being pulled, making David Rittich the likely starter against the Sabres. This contest also marks the second game of a back-to-back for the Islanders, though they have a decent 9-3-1 record in such situations this season.

The Sabres have historically had the upper hand in this season's series, winning both previous encounters: a 3-2 shootout victory on December 20 and a dominant 5-0 shutout on January 24. The Islanders are also grappling with a significant injury list, including defenseman Tony DeAngelo (lower body), and season-ending injuries to goaltender Semyon Varlamov, defenseman Alexander Romanov, and forwards Kyle Palmieri and Pierre Engvall. The Sabres also have some injuries, with center Noah Ostlund day-to-day with an upper-body injury, and Jiri Kulich and Justin Danforth out long-term.

The Polymarket odds clearly reflect these dynamics. The Sabres' strong home record, their superior position in the standings, recent form, and previous victories against the Islanders, coupled with New York's recent demoralizing loss and extensive injury list, contribute to the market's conviction. While Mathew Barzal and Brayden Schenn have shown recent offensive flashes for the Islanders, the overall picture suggests a challenging road ahead for them in Buffalo.

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Market data fetched at 2026-03-31 18:18 UTC | Polymarket ID: 1499933

This article is generated by AI for informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before making any investment decisions. Data sourced from Polymarket and public web sources.

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