Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Sabres and Blue Jackets. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. Get ready to place your bets! The Sabres come into this Eastern conference matchup as the -1.5 goal favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 6.5 goals. If you’re interested in placing a wager, you can bet this game at BetMGM.
Buffalo Sabres Preview
Buffalo comes into this game as the 13th ranked team in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 25-27-4. In the Atlantic Division, they are in 6th place. On the road, the Sabres have gone 13-11-3 this season, and they have won four straight games away from home. In games where they have been favored, Buffalo has gone 12-9-1.
Over their last ten games, the Sabres have gone 5-5, and they have won three of their last five games. Against other Eastern Conference teams, Buffalo has gone 14-19 this season.
When looking at their offense, the Sabres have an average of 2.9 goals per game this season, positioning themselves 21st in the NHL. In terms of shots on goal per game, they are ranked 12th in the league. So far this year, the Sabres are 15-18 in games they have had more shots on goal than their opponent. They are 10-9 in games with fewer shots on goal.
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%.
Columbus Blue Jackets Preview
At home this season, the Blue Jackets have gone 9-14-4, including losing their last two games. In the Eastern Conference, Columbus is 16th and 8th in the Metropolitan Division. Overall, the Blue Jackets have a record of 18-27-10.
As the underdog, Columbus has gone 16-25-9 this season, and they have been the underdog in 50 of their 55 games. Over their last ten games, the Blue Jackets have gone 4-6. In the Eastern Conference, Columbus has gone 9-25.
In terms of their offensive performance, the Blue Jackets are averaging 3 goals per game this season, putting them in the 24th spot in the NHL. When it comes to shots on goal per game, they are ranked 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.
Heading into this matchup vs. Buffalo, goalie Elvis Merzlikins has started 31 games in this season. His current record is 10-12, and his save percentage stands at 0.832%.
In the matchups between these two teams, the Sabres had the edge, with a 2-1-0 record. In terms of the puck line, the Sabres posted a 2-1 record.
In the matchups between these two teams, the Sabres had the edge, with a 2-1-0 record. In terms of the puck line, the Sabres posted a 2-1 record.
How to Bet Blue Jackets vs. Sabres in New York
If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Blue Jackets winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Blue Jackets straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line. If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6.5 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.
- SportsBettingNY Puck Line Prediction: Blue Jackets +1.5
- SportsBettingNY OU Prediction: Over 6.5