The Florida Panthers (2-1-2) and Buffalo Sabres (2-3-0) tussle in a Monday matinee in Buffalo, New York. The opening puck drop at the KeyBank Center will be at 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let's analyze NHL odds around the Panthers vs. Sabres odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
2025-26 season series: Buffalo won 3-1; teams split in Buffalo
Florida last played Saturday, falling 4-1 (Under 5.5) to the Minnesota Wild as a -135 home favorite. Florida has dropped 3 of its last 4 games and has scored 2 goals or fewer in 4 of its first 5 contests.
The Sabres also played their most recent game Saturday, losing 4-1 (Under 6.5) to the -112 Utah Mammoth. Buffalo has lost 2 consecutive games by a combined 8-1 score; the Under has cashed in 3 straight.
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Panthers at Sabres odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 11:26 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Panthers -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Sabres -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Panthers +1.5 (-275) | Sabres -1.5 (+220)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Panthers at Sabres projected goalies
Jacob Markstrom (2-1-1, 1.71 GAA, .916 SV%) vs. Colten Ellis (1-1-0, 2.90 GAA, .880 SV%)
Markstrom was between the pipes Saturday and allowed 3 goals on 28 shots. The 36-year-old owns a 2.36 GAA and .907 SV% in his career.
Ellis was also last between the pipes Saturday: he allowed 4 goals -- 2 event-strength and 2 power-play -- in the Sabres loss to Utah. The second-year goalie owns a 2.90 GAA, .901 SV% in 18 career games.
Panthers at Sabres picks and predictions
Prediction
Sabres 4, Panthers 3
Moneyline
Buffalo is 3-1 over its last 4 games against Florida.
The Sabres were outshot 30-24 by Utah in a game that got away from them after holding an early 1-0 lead. Buffalo had yielded just 19 shots per game before that setback. The club's expected-goal numbers are more favorable that what shows on a surface line that has seen the Sabres outscored 19-11 so far. An 8.3% shooting percentage and shaky special teams have not helped. But the price for this matinee home contest puts value on the Buffalo side.
In 9 career games at home, Ellis has filed a solid .910 SV%. He's up against a Florida club that has certainly been stingy on defense but has scuffled in developing high-quality 5-on-5 looks.
TAKE THE SABRES (-110).
Puck line/Against the spread
No interest; PASS.
Over/Under
The last 4 series meetings in Buffalo have seen the Over go 3-1.
The 5-on-5 expected-goal numbers for each side would indicate higher scores than when their games have yielded on average thus far. Florida tends to drag foes into games with a lot of penalties. But neither of these clubs has done anything yet on the power play (Panthers 1 for 28, Sabres 1 for 17).
Buffalo's shooting percentage is down overall, but per NaturalStatTrick the Sabres own a woeful 4.7% shooting mark in 5-on-5 score-and-venue adjusted situations. Buffalo was fifth in the NHL in scoring average last season; more pucks are going to find twine.
The OVER 6 (-115) has value.
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Florida Panthers at Buffalo Sabres odds, picks and predictions
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