Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres Preview
Planning on watching today’s Sabres and Blue Jackets game? Catch the action at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH, as the Blue Jackets hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+.
The Sabres are favored by -1.5 in this Eastern conference contest against the Blue Jackets. The game’s over/under currently sits at 6.5 goals. Check out BetCoco for Columbus Blue Jackets – Buffalo Sabres odds
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres Head-to-Head and Key Stats
The Sabres and Blue Jackets did not have any head-to-head matchups last season. But over the last three times playing each other, the Sabres have a record of 2-1. However, against the puck line the Blue Jackets went 2-1. The over/under record in these matchups was 1-1-1 on an average of 8 goals per game.
- Although Buffalo has a straight up record of 6-4 in their last ten road games, they have not held up as well vs the puck line going 6-4. The team averaged 3 goals per game in these games.
- In their last ten games at home, the Blue Jackets have a straight up record of 2-8 while going 4-6 vs. the spread. The team averaged 2 goals per game in this stretch.
- Going back to their previous ten games as the underdog, Columbus has an puck line mark of 4-6 while going 3-7 straight up.
- Spanning across their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Sabres have gone 5-5 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 6-4.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction
Buffalo comes into tonight’s game with an overall record of 25-27-4, which has them in 6th place in the Atlantic Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference. On the road, the Sabres are 13-11-3 this season, including a current four-game winning streak away from home. Over their last ten games, Buffalo has gone 5-5, and they are 3-2 in their last five games.
As the favorite, Buffalo has gone 12-9-1 this season, and they have been favored in 22 of their 56 games. In the Eastern Conference, the Sabres have gone 14-19, and they have gone 8-8 against other teams in the Atlantic Division. Over their last three games, Buffalo has gone 2-1.
For their offensive performance, the Sabres come in averaging 2.9 goals per game this season, which is 21st in the NHL. In the category of shots on goal per game, they are 12th in the league. Buffalo’s offense is currently ranked 27th in power play goals. When it comes to shorthanded goals, they are 19th in the league.
Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen comes into the game having made 29 starts this season. So far, his record is 15-14 and he has a save percentage of 0.757%.
At 18-27-10, Columbus is in 16th place in the Eastern Conference and 8th in the Metropolitan Division. In their last 10 games, the Blue Jackets have gone 4-6. Over their last five games, Columbus has gone 2-3, and they are 2-1 in their last three games.
At home this season, the Blue Jackets are 9-14-4 and have lost two straight games at home. As an underdog, Columbus has gone 16-25-9 this season, and they have been the underdog in 50 of their 55 games this year.
On the offensive side, the Blue Jackets are scoring an 3 goals per game this season, ranking 24th in the NHL. When it came to shots on target per game, they are 22nd in the league. In terms of the Blue Jackets’ offense during power plays, they are 32nd in power play goals and 26th in shorthanded goals.
Goalie Elvis Merzlikins comes into the game having made 31 starts this season. So far, his record is 10-12 and he has a save percentage of 0.832%.
With a 1.5 goal advantage on the spread, our projections favor the Sabres to secure a 4-3 victory.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres Betting Tips
- Take the Sabres on the moneyline
- On the puck line, we like Blue Jackets (+1.5)
- Our NHL model projects 7 goals, and we suggest taking the under
Columbus Blue Jackets Injury Report
- Patrik Laine – Shoulder – Out
- Adam Fantilli – Leg – Out
Buffalo Sabres Injury Report
- Victor Olofsson – Illness – Questionable
- Mattias Samuelsson – Upper Body – Out
- Jack Quinn – Lower Body – Out
- Owen Power – Hand – Out
