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Los Angeles Kings vs Buffalo Sabres prediction, odds, win probability, and matchup analysis for December 20, 2026

NHL matchup

Los Angeles Kings at Buffalo Sabres

View the PlayerWON Model V2 prediction, fair odds, market comparison, team performance, and recent head-to-head history for December 20, 2026.

December 20, 2026 · 6:00 PM MBT
Away

Los Angeles Kings

5-8-2

46.7%
at
Home

Buffalo Sabres

8-6-3

53.3% Model pick
Model V2 pick: Buffalo Sabres at 53.3%
Prediction

Model V2 versus market

Compare PlayerWON win probabilities with fair odds and available market data.

Los Angeles Kings logo
Away team

Los Angeles Kings

46.7%
Fair American +114
Fair decimal 2.14
Calculate value
Buffalo Sabres logo
Home team

Buffalo Sabres

53.3%
Fair American -114
Fair decimal 1.88
Calculate value
Simulated betting results

Team performance leading into this game

Model V2 · One-unit bets backing each team before Dec 20, 2026.

Buffalo Sabres

All Model Picks

Bets
12
Record
6-6
Net units
-1.52
ROI
-12.7%

Value Picks

Bets
6
Record
1-5
Net units
-4.07
ROI
-67.8%

Market Favourite

Bets
9
Record
6-3
Net units
1.24
ROI
13.8%
Full team betting results

This game and later dates are excluded.

Recent usage

Forward trios & defense pairs

Most-used five-on-five trio and defense pair from each team's last 10 completed regular-season games before Dec 20. Historical usage, not confirmed lines for this matchup.

Los Angeles Kings

10 / 10 games covered · Minimum 5 shared minutes

Forward trio

102:12 together · 9 games

xG share60.9%
Corsi for / against
117 / 94
Fenwick for / against
84 / 72
Corsi share
55.5%
Fenwick share
53.8%
xG for / against
6.89 / 4.42
Defense pair

126:35 together · 10 games

xG share46.4%
Corsi for / against
92 / 112
Fenwick for / against
67 / 82
Corsi share
45.1%
Fenwick share
45.0%
xG for / against
4.84 / 5.59
All observed combinations

Buffalo Sabres

10 / 10 games covered · Minimum 5 shared minutes

Forward trio

64:53 together · 9 games

xG share47.4%
Corsi for / against
75 / 69
Fenwick for / against
55 / 57
Corsi share
52.1%
Fenwick share
49.1%
xG for / against
3.74 / 4.14
Defense pair

105:44 together · 8 games

xG share50.6%
Corsi for / against
114 / 106
Fenwick for / against
73 / 74
Corsi share
51.8%
Fenwick share
49.7%
xG for / against
4.43 / 4.32
All observed combinations

Ambiguous events and unreliable intervals are excluded. xG requires complete current scoring for each contributing game. These summaries do not change the model prediction.

Goalie predictions

Expected starters

Estimated starting chances among eligible goalies. These are model predictions, not confirmed starters.

Season goaltending

Every recorded goalie

Regular-season records for each team in 2026–27, before Dec 20, 2026. Includes recorded backups. Games played require ice time; stats cover only games with this team.

Goalie context

Recent starting goalies

Each team's last recorded starter before this matchup. These are not confirmed or projected starters for this game. Results cover their last 5 appearances before the matchup.

Darcy Kuemper

Los Angeles Kings · Last start: Nov 7

5 / 5 appearances covered

Shots faced
141
Save %
88.7
Goals allowed
16
Close-range shots %
37.6

Colten Ellis

Buffalo Sabres · Last start: Nov 8

5 / 5 appearances covered

Shots faced
123
Save %
88.6
Goals allowed
14
Close-range shots %
30.1
Pregame context · xG V1

Recent expected goals

Last 10 completed regular-season games before Dec 20, 2026. This game and later dates are excluded.

Los Angeles Kings

xG for / game
3.43
xG against / game
3.04
xG differential / game
0.39

10 / 10 selected games fully scored. Historical chance quality, not a forecast of this game's goals.

Buffalo Sabres

xG for / game
3.32
xG against / game
3.65
xG differential / game
-0.33

10 / 10 selected games fully scored. Historical chance quality, not a forecast of this game's goals.

Recent play-by-play

Team tendencies before this game

Last 10 completed regular-season games before Dec 20, 2026. This game and later dates are excluded.

Los Angeles Kings

10 / 10 games covered

Attempts / game
59.9
Corsi share (%)
49.3
Fenwick share (%)
49.0
Faceoff win %
50.1
Penalties / game
4.0

Shots / game: 26.5 · Shooting: 12.8% · Avg distance: 31.2 ft

Buffalo Sabres

10 / 10 games covered

Attempts / game
60.2
Corsi share (%)
50.5
Fenwick share (%)
49.6
Faceoff win %
43.4
Penalties / game
4.3

Shots / game: 30.3 · Shooting: 10.2% · Avg distance: 31.5 ft

Skaters versus this opponent

Hot & cold against the other team

Up to five skaters per team, ranked by the largest change in points per game against this opponent versus other opponents. Uses the last five meetings per player within this season and the previous two seasons, before Dec 20, 2026.

Los Angeles Kings

M. Zuccarello Hot · +0.87 P/GP

3 games vs Buffalo Sabres · 1.67 points/game
0.79 points/game across 131 games vs other opponents

Goals
2
Assists
3
Points
5
Shots / game
2.3
Q. Byfield Cold · -0.44 P/GP

5 games vs Buffalo Sabres · 0.20 points/game
0.64 points/game across 168 games vs other opponents

Goals
0
Assists
1
Points
1
Shots / game
1.8
D. Doughty Cold · -0.42 P/GP

3 games vs Buffalo Sabres · 0.00 points/game
0.42 points/game across 113 games vs other opponents

Goals
0
Assists
0
Points
0
Shots / game
1.3
A. Laferriere Cold · -0.37 P/GP

5 games vs Buffalo Sabres · 0.20 points/game
0.57 points/game across 169 games vs other opponents

Goals
0
Assists
1
Points
1
Shots / game
1.8
T. Moore Cold · -0.31 P/GP

5 games vs Buffalo Sabres · 0.20 points/game
0.51 points/game across 150 games vs other opponents

Goals
0
Assists
1
Points
1
Shots / game
3.2

Buffalo Sabres

J. Zucker Cold · -0.51 P/GP

5 games vs Los Angeles Kings · 0.20 points/game
0.71 points/game across 138 games vs other opponents

Goals
1
Assists
0
Points
1
Shots / game
1.0
O. Power Cold · -0.48 P/GP

5 games vs Los Angeles Kings · 0.00 points/game
0.48 points/game across 172 games vs other opponents

Goals
0
Assists
0
Points
0
Shots / game
1.6
Z. Benson Hot · +0.47 P/GP

5 games vs Los Angeles Kings · 1.00 points/game
0.53 points/game across 152 games vs other opponents

Goals
1
Assists
4
Points
5
Shots / game
1.8
N. Ostlund Cold · -0.45 P/GP

3 games vs Los Angeles Kings · 0.00 points/game
0.45 points/game across 82 games vs other opponents

Goals
0
Assists
0
Points
0
Shots / game
2.0
J. Quinn Hot · +0.40 P/GP

5 games vs Los Angeles Kings · 1.00 points/game
0.60 points/game across 168 games vs other opponents

Goals
1
Assists
4
Points
5
Shots / game
1.6
How hot and cold are measuredSample requirements, player selection and limitations

Hot means a higher points-per-game rate against this opponent; cold means a lower rate. The comparison uses other opponents over the same three-season window. Only players whose most recent recorded team this season matches this matchup are considered; this does not confirm tonight's lineup. History includes appearances for former teams. Players with no meaningful rate difference are omitted from the highlights; the full breakdown includes them. These small, unadjusted historical samples describe past production, not a forecast or a statistically established matchup advantage.

Want the full picture?

See every recorded skater from both teams, including players with limited opponent history.

View all players vs opponent →
Team comparison

Season and recent form

Season overview
Los Angeles Kings LAK
Metric
Buffalo Sabres BUF
12Points19
0.400Points %0.559
45Goals for50
52Goals against57
-7Goal differential-7
L1Current streakL1
Road versus home
Los Angeles Kings LAK road
Metric
Buffalo Sabres BUF home
8Games9
3Wins4
8Points8
-2Goal differential-6
Last 10 games
Los Angeles Kings LAK
Metric
Buffalo Sabres BUF
5-5-0Record5-3-2
10Points12
34Goals for31
31Goals against31
3Goal differential0
History

Last 10 head-to-head games

Los Angeles Kings LAK 3 wins
10 games reviewed
Buffalo Sabres BUF 7 wins
Total goals18 – 33
Goal differential -15 / +15
Goals per game1.8 / 3.3
Shots per game31.3 / 28.8
Date Matchup Score Shots Details
Oct 31, 2026
Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres at Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings
3 - 2 31 - 29 View
Mar 21, 2026
Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres at Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings
4 - 1 33 - 27 View
Jan 29, 2026
Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings at Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres
1 - 4 38 - 32 View
Nov 20, 2024
Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres at Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings
1 - 0 19 - 23 View
Oct 10, 2024
Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings at Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres
3 - 1 23 - 33 View
Feb 13, 2024
Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings at Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres
0 - 7 33 - 24 View
Jan 24, 2024
Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres at Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings
5 - 3 37 - 40 View
Feb 13, 2023
Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres at Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings
2 - 5 29 - 28 View
Dec 13, 2022
Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings at Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres
0 - 6 40 - 31 View
Mar 6, 2022
Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings at Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres
3 - 0 32 - 19 View
This matchup prediction is generated using playerWON’s Model V2, incorporating team performance, recent form, and home/away effects. View full model performance to compare results across games.
Daily edge board Best odds Full schedule Standings LAK BUF