Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres Betting Picks & Predictions
The Columbus Blue Jackets are set to take on the Buffalo Sabres in a key Eastern Conference matchup. Columbus is coming off a loss to the Dallas Stars, ending a three-game
Game outlook
The Columbus Blue Jackets are set to take on the Buffalo Sabres in a key Eastern Conference matchup. Columbus is coming off a loss to the Dallas Stars, ending a three-game winning streak, while Buffalo has won three straight. Columbus currently holds the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, while Buffalo is 12 points behind. Both teams will be missing key players for the game. Buffalo is the favorite in the betting lines, opening at -166. Be sure to check out our expert prediction for this game and make your NHL picks.
Betting Odds
Moneyline: Blue Jackets +147 | Sabres -165
Spread: Blue Jackets +1.5 (-175) | Sabres -1.5 (+150)
Total: Over/Under 6.5 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Buffalo will win straight-up is 62%.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a strong offense, ranking 5th in the league with an average of 3.35 goals scored per game. However, their defense ranks 26th, allowing an average of 3.29 goals against per game. Columbus currently has a 26-20-7 record for the season. The team's power play is ranked 16th, converting 21.5% of their opportunities, while their penalty kill is ranked 27th, holding opponents scoreless 74.7% of the time. Leading goal scorers for Columbus include Kirill Marchenko with 21 goals and Zach Werenski with 17 goals. Werenski also leads in assists with 40, and points with 57. The team has a total of 10 players with 20 points or more. In goal, Elvis Merzlikins has a record of 19-12-3 with a goals-against average of 2.96 and a save percentage of .895. Overall, Columbus has a power ranking of 7.