The Columbus Blue Jackets and Buffalo Sabres meet Thursday in NHL action at the KeyBank Center. Here’s a Sabres vs. Blue Jackets Prediction. This article will include a Sabres vs. Blue Jackets Pick.
Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview
The Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Jets, beat the Red Wings and play the Habs next. The Blue Jackets have lost 7 of their last 9 games.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging 3.05 goals per game and are scoring on 19.6 percent of their power play opportunities. Kirill Marchenko leads Columbus with 26 goals, Zach Werenski has 58 assists and Adam Fantilli has 205 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.06 goals per game and are killing 75.9 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jet Greaves has allowed 131 goals on 1,450 shots faced, and Elvis Merzlikins has given up 95 goals on 812 shots.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
The Buffalo Sabres beat the Lightning and Rangers and play the Blackhawks next. The Sabres have lost 5 of their last 9 games.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 3.42 goals per game and are scoring 20.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Tage Thompson leads Buffalo with 38 goals, Rasmus Dahlin has 53 assists, and Alex Tuch has 189 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 2.99 goals per game and are killing 81.4 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Alex Lyon has given up 92 goals on 979 shots faced, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has allowed 84 goals on 914 shots.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Sabres have won each of their last 11 night games at KeyBank Center following a road win.
- The Blue Jackets have lost six of their last seven games.
- The Blue Jackets have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six games.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in eight of their last 10 games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Blue Jackets have lost the third period in each of their last six games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents when trailing after the second period.
Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win
- The Blue Jackets have won four of their last five games as an away underdog when playing with a rest advantage.
- The Sabres have lost five of their last seven games as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the last eight games between the Blue Jackets and Sabres.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last seven games as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Blue Jackets have won the first period in each of their last five games against the Sabres after coming off overtime.
Total Goals Facts
- Eight of the Blue Jackets’ last nine road games against opponents on a winning streak have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Six of the Sabres’ last seven games on the second leg of a back-to-back have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Blue Jackets’ last eight road games against the Sabres.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Sabres’ last seven games as home favorites against the Blue Jackets.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Alex Tuch has scored at least one goal in three of the Sabres’ last four games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one assist in eight of the Sabres’ last nine games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
Columbus Blue Jackets Player Prop Facts
- Miles Wood has scored at least one goal in three of his last four appearances against the Sabres.
- Zach Werenski has recorded at least one assist in each of his last seven appearances in night games at KeyBank Center.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 7th in the league for goals per game this season (3.42).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 3rd in the league in save percentage this season (.906).
- The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 28th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (75.94%).
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have suffered the equal-most losses when tied or leading after Period 2 this season (22).
Sabres vs Blue Jackets Prediction
The Blue Jackets and the plus money are worth a look when you consider they have the rest advantage and are fighting for their playoff lives. However, the Blue Jackets were in the thick of the playoff race and still decided to lose 6 of their last 7 games. The Blue Jackets can’t find consistent offense and the defensive effort can get bad. The Sabres have been one of the most consistent teams in the league all year and we don’t get prices with them this cheap often. Give me the Sabres at home and the cheap price.