| MATCHUP | Columbus Blue Jackets | Buffalo Sabres |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 39-27-12 | 48-23-8 |
| Spread | +1.5 -245 | -1.5 200 |
| Moneyline | +105 | -125 |
| Total | Over 6.5 (105) | Under 6.5 (-125) |
| Where | KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY | |
| When | Thursday, April 9, 2026 | |
| Time | 07:00 PM EDT | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
Buffalo Sabres Preview
The Sabres have 104 points this season with a 48-23-8 record, and are 42-37 ATS and 37-39 in over/under. They have a 25-10-4 home record and a 23-13-4 road record and are sitting 1st in the Atlantic Division. They are coming off a 5-3 road win over the Rangers, and their previous three games were a 4-2 home win over the Lightning, a 2-6 road loss to the Capitals, and a 1-4 road loss to the Senators.
Offensively, the Sabres are averaging 3.42 goals per game and are scoring 20.1% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 2.99 goals per game and are killing 81.4% of their opponent’s power plays.
Tage Thompson leads the Sabres with 79 points and 38 goals, while Rasmus Dahlin leads the team in assists with 53. Alex Lyon is the starting goalie for the Sabres, and he has a 20-10-4 record, with 2.77 GAA and .907 SV%. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the backup goalie and he has a 21-9-3 record, with 2.56 GAA and .909 SV%.
Columbus Blue Jackets Preview
The Blue Jackets have 90 points this season with a 39-27-12 record, and are 39-39 ATS and 36-38 in over/under. They have a 20-11-8 home record and a 19-16-4 road record and are sitting 4th in the Metropolitan Division. They are coming off a 4-3 road shootout win over the Red Wings, and their previous three games were a 1-2 home loss to the Jets, a 1-5 road loss to the Hurricanes, and a 2-5 home loss to the Hurricanes.
Offensively, the Blue Jackets are averaging 3.05 goals per game and are scoring 19.6% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 3.06 goals per game and are killing 75.9% of their opponent’s power plays.
Zach Werenski leads the Blue Jackets with 80 points and 22 goals, adding a team-high 58 assists. Jet Greaves is the starting goalie for the Blue Jackets, and he has a 25-16-9 record, with 2.59 GAA and .910 SV%. Elvis Merzlikins is the backup goalie and he has a 14-11-3 record, with 3.40 GAA and .883 SV%.
Columbus Blue Jackets @ Buffalo Sabres Betting Trends: April 9, 2026
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.
- Peyton Krebs has recorded four blocks against the Blue Jackets this season – equal-most against any opponent.
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.
- Miles Wood has scored two goals against the Sabres this season – most against any opponent.
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).
Blue Jackets vs Sabres Prediction
The Blue Jackets have won both meetings against the Sabres this season, at home by 5-1 and on the road by 4-3 in overtime. The Blue Jackets are 4-1 in their last 5 meetings against the Sabres and are 3-2 in their last 5 visits in Buffalo.
In this Blue Jackets vs Sabres Prediction, the Sabres are coming as -125 home favorites. The Blue Jackets are outside looking in the Eastern Conference playoffs and are facing a Sabres team that is on its second leg of a back-to-back. They snapped their previous six-game losing streak with a road win in Detroit and I expect them to carry the momentum and get away with another much-needed road win against a tired Buffalo team that played on the road yesterday. Take the Blue Jackets on the moneyline for plus money.