The Buffalo Sabres (30-17-5) host the Los Angeles Kings (22-16-13) at KeyBank Center on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with both teams heading into the game following a victory. The Sabres are coming off a 7-4 triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the Kings took down the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 in their last game.
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Ahead of this matchup, here is who we predict to secure the win in Thursday's hockey game.
The Kings have gone 4-2-4 over the last 10 games, putting up 24 total goals (four power-play goals on 29 power-play opportunities during that span, for a conversion rate of 13.8%). They have conceded 29 goals to their opponents.
Sabres vs. Kings Predictions for Thursday
Our computer projections model for this game expects a final score of Sabres 4, Kings 3.
- Moneyline Pick: Sabres (-126)
- Total Pick: No Pick - Predicted Margin Negligible
- Spread Pick: Kings (+1.5)
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Sabres Splits and Trends
- The Sabres are 6-5-11 in overtime matchups on their way to a 30-17-5 overall record.
- Buffalo has 13 points (4-2-5) in the 11 games it has played that were decided by one goal.
- In the six games this season the Sabres scored just one goal, they finished 0-5-1.
- Buffalo has taken four points from the seven games this season when it scored exactly two goals (2-5-0 record).
- The Sabres have scored more than two goals in 36 games (28-4-4, 60 points).
- In the 16 games when Buffalo has capitalized on a lone power-play goal, it has a 10-3-3 record (23 points).
- In the 19 games this season in which it has outshot its opponent, Buffalo is 10-7-2 (22 points).
- The Sabres have been outshot by opponents in 33 games, going 20-10-3 to register 43 points.
Kings Splits and Trends
- The Kings have a record of 22-16-13 this season and are 8-13-21 in overtime games.
- Los Angeles has earned 27 points (10-5-7) in its 22 games that finished with a one-goal margin.
- This season the Kings scored just one goal in 13 games and have gone 1-9-3 (five points).
- Los Angeles has earned 11 points (4-6-3 record) this season when scoring two goals .
- The Kings have scored three or more goals in 25 games, earning 41 points from those contests.
- This season, Los Angeles has scored a single power-play goal in 22 games and picked up 26 points with a record of 11-7-4.
- When it outshoots its opponent this season, Los Angeles has posted a record of 11-11-5 (27 points).
- The Kings have been outshot by opponents 22 times this season, and earned 29 points in those games.
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Team Stats Comparison
| Sabres Rank | Sabres AVG | Kings AVG | Kings Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | 3.38 | Goals Scored | 2.61 | 28th |
| 14th | 3.06 | Goals Allowed | 2.71 | 4th |
| 19th | 27.5 | Shots | 27.7 | 18th |
| 25th | 29.3 | Shots Allowed | 27 | 9th |
| 20th | 19.21% | Power Play % | 15.58% | 30th |
| 5th | 83.57% | Penalty Kill % | 77.84% | 21st |
Sabres vs. Kings Game Time and TV Channel
- When: Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN+
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)
- Where: KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York
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