🏒 NHLForecasts.com
Data-Driven NHL Predictions & Analytics
2026-27 Season Live

Buffalo Sabres at Minnesota Wild NHL Predictions

2023-01-28 • Xcel Energy Center
Minnesota Wild 3 - 2 Buffalo Sabres (SO)

📊 Pre-Game Predictions

Win Probability
MIN: 52.2%
BUF: 47.8%
Expected Goals
MIN: 3.04
BUF: 3.16
Total Goals
Median: 6.4
Over 5.5: 59%
Over 6.5: 44%

🥅 Goalie Matchup

MIN
Marc-Andre Fleury - 14-9-1 | 0.899 SV% | 2.93 GAA
BUF
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - 7-5-1 | 0.903 SV% | 2.46 GAA
StatMINBUF
Season SV%0.8990.903
Last 5 SV%——
SV% vs Opponent——
GAA2.932.46
Last 5 / vs opponent shown when available in goalie stats. Confirmed goalie row used when available; otherwise current projected starter is shown.

Goalie Game Metrics

TeamGoalieSASavesGASV%xGAHD FacedGSAx
MINMarc-Andre Fleury3330390.9%2.971-0.03
BUFUkko-Pekka Luukkonen3833586.8%5.9740.97
SA uses shots on goal plus goals. xGA, high-danger faced, and GSAx use modeled scoring attempts against. GSAx is xGA minus goals against.

Head-to-Head History

Model accuracy in this matchup: 50% • MIN at home vs BUF: 2-3
DateScoreWinnerModel Pick
2026-01-17BUF 4 - 5 MINMINBUF
2025-11-29MIN 2 - 3 BUFBUFMIN
2025-03-22MIN 4 - 1 BUFMINBUF
2024-11-27BUF 0 - 1 MINMINMIN
2024-02-17MIN 2 - 3 BUFBUFBUF

Shot Quality by Period

PeriodTeamShotsHigh DangerxG
1MIN1811.54
1BUF1000.63
2MIN1300.75
2BUF1400.49
3MIN1300.90
3BUF1200.77
4MIN300.23
4BUF300.08
5MIN332.55
5BUF211.00
Shots are modeled attempts: shots on goal, goals, and missed shots. Blocked shots are excluded. High danger is xG >= 0.20.

📈 Post-Game Analysis

Prediction Result
✅ Correct
Confidence: 52.2%
Total Goals
Actual: 5.0
Expected: 6.2
Score Breakdown
Minnesota Wild 3 - 2 Buffalo Sabres
Expected: 3.0 - 3.2