Nashville Predators at Buffalo Sabres

BUF controlled play at 5v5 last season, 50.7% of the expected goals to 47.7%; BUF's power play ran at 19.7% against a NSH kill at 81.7%.

In goal, neither team has named a starter. Last season Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF) saved -1.3 goals above expected to Juuse Saros's -28.0, on save percentages of 0.910 and 0.894.

None of that is the model read. This is a rating-and-home-ice forecast; the full prediction — confirmed goalies, rest and form, priced against the market — publishes inside the seven days before puck drop and replaces these numbers. Buffalo Sabres over Nashville Predators is where it starts, not where it ends.

No starter is named this far out. These are each side’s projected starters on the current roster, with last season’s numbers.

NSH

Juuse Saros

SV%

0.894

GSAx

-28.0

GAA

3.16

Record

28-22-8

59 games, 2025-26

BUF

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

SV%

0.910

GSAx

-1.3

GAA

2.52

Record

22-9-3

35 games, 2025-26