Vancouver Canucks vs. Buffalo Sabres Prediction, NHL Odds
After trading their cornerstone player and captain, the Canucks rattled off four consecutive wins before coming back down to earth. After firing their general manager, the Sabres rode a 10-game winning streak into 2026.
Vancouver has an uphill battle if they’re going to make a second-half playoff push. But Buffalo is in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference. If they are going to stay relevant in the second half of the season, every point matters. This sets up for a good, competitive game.
Canucks vs. Sabres NHL Betting Odds
Since winning four straight games to start the post-Quinn Hughes era, Vancouver has dropped five of their last six. They have lost two straight entering this game, but collected a point in each. With that, the Canucks have points in three out of their last four.
This is a big bounce-back spot for the Sabres. After an impressive 10-game winning streak, Buffalo lost 5-1 on Saturday. They will be eager to get right back in the win column to keep pace in the East and make sure to not offset too much of their streak. Buffalo has won six of their last seven games at home, and is 16-7 dating back to mid-November.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have suffered a couple of injuries already in 2026. They lost forwards Conor Garland and Marco Rossi, both of whom have played an important role in Vancouver’s top two lines and power play units. Their lineup looks a little thin for this one.
Despite the injuries, the Canucks have had some solid individual performances. In their last five games, forward Linus Karlsson has three goals, and defenceman Filip Hronek has five points. To reiterate, this team is not playing badly, as evident by their points in three of their last four. If a couple more players can contribute, they will have a chance in this one.
Buffalo Sabres
There is positive news on the injury front for Buffalo as they expect forward Jason Zucker back in the lineup for this game, and defenceman Michael Kesselring is close to returning. Zucker has nine goals and nine assists in 21 games played this season, and would make an instant impact as a top-six forward.
Zucker joins a team in much better shape than when he was placed on the IR. Buffalo just had its winning streak snapped, but the Sabres should still have a great feeling in that locker room as they look to get back in the win column. The Sabres are getting important contributions from several players, and they are only getting healthier.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Canucks vs. Sabres?
This is a good get-right spot for the Sabres. In the NHL, teams are never as good as they are at their best, and never as bad as they are at their worst. They may not be quite as good as a 10-game winning streak would indicate, but the Sabres have proven to be a playoff contender. If they are going to contend, they need to beat teams like the Canucks.
The Sabres are healthier, have more top-end players producing, have played great at home, and both score more and allow fewer goals than the Canucks. After getting their winning streak snapped, Buffalo should have a chip on their shoulder and play with a little added jam to get these two points. Look for a 4-2 Sabres win tonight.
VAN
BUF