Buffalo Sabres (21-26-5) vs Columbus Blue Jackets (26-20-7)
Game Info: Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 7:00 pm (KeyBank Center)
The Line: Betting Odds: Buffalo Sabres -170 / Columbus Blue Jackets +142 — Over/Under: 6.5
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Buffalo Sabres meet Tuesday in NHL action at the KeyBank Center. Here’s a Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction. This article will include a Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres Pick.
Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Preview
The Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Stars, beat Utah, and play Utah, the Rangers, and the Blackhawks next. The Columbus Blue Jackets are averaging 3.26 goals per game and are scoring 21.5 percent of their power play opportunities. Kirill Marchenko leads Columbus with 21 goals, Zach Werenski has 40 assists and Adam Fantilli has 117 shots on goal. Defensively, the Columbus Blue Jackets are allowing 3.3 goals per game and are killing 74.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Daniil Tarasov has allowed 52 goals on 420 shots faced, and Elvis Merzlikins has given up 101 goals on 964 shots.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
The Buffalo Sabres beat the Predators and Devils, and play the Predators, Rangers, and Ducks next. The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 3.12 goals per game and are scoring 16.3 percent of their power play opportunities. Tage Thompson leads Buffalo with 26 goals, Rasmus Dahlin has 33 assists and Dylan Cozens has 120 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 3.38 goals per game and are killing 78.5 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Devon Levi has given up 33 goals on 258 shots faced, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has allowed 109 goals on 1,060 shots.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Sabres have won six of their last seven games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Blue Jackets have lost 16 of their last 19 road games against opponents on a winning streak.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last eight Tuesday night games at KeyBank Center.
- The Blue Jackets have lost the second period in seven of their last eight Tuesday games.
Why the Columbus Blue Jackets will win
- The Sabres have lost six of their last seven games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Blue Jackets have won four of their last five games as underdogs following a road loss.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the Blue Jackets’ last four games at KeyBank Center.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in six of their last seven games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Blue Jackets have won the first period in each of their last four night games at KeyBank Center.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 1st in the league for Period 1 goals scored per game this season (1.13).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 31st in the league for Period 3 goals allowed per game this season (1.31).
- The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 8th in the league for goals per game this season (3.26).
- The Columbus Blue Jackets rank 31st in the league for Period 2 goals allowed per game this season (1.26).
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres Injury Report
The Blue Jackets will be without Kirill Marchenko.
The Buffalo Sabres will be without Jordan Greenway and Tyson Kozak. Tage Thompson and Connor Clifton are questionable.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction
The Buffalo Sabres are going to let me down again at some point, but you have to be encouraged with three straight wins and an offense that’s clicking. The Columbus Blue Jackets have had a couple of productive weeks, but they’re on the road where they’re just 9-15-4 on the season. The Sabres play their best hockey at home, where 12 of their 21 wins have come. This is a fourth straight road game for the Blue Jackets, and they’ve played a lot of hockey lately with three of their last four games going to overtime. Potential tired legs for the road team. The road/home splits is why I’m going to side with the Sabres in this spot. Of course, I’ll lay the PL to shave down the price.