Facing each other for the third and final time this season, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Buffalo Sabres clash at the KeyBank Center in an Eastern Conference tilt. Sportsnet will broadcast the game, and the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 11.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Buffalo Sabres Odds
With a -160 moneyline, Columbus enters the matchup as the heavy favorite. The line for Buffalo sits at +140, and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-130 for the under, +110 for the over).
Columbus is 25-19 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.3 units this year. 24 of its contests have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just one has pushed. As a road team in 2017-18, the Jackets are 10-12 SU.
Columbus has converted on just 12.2 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s ranked 32nd in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 79.7 percent of its penalties.
The Jackets, as a collective unit, have been penalized just 3.1 times per game during the 2017-18 season, and 2.2 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 8.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.4 saves per game with a .922 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (21-15-3) has been the best option in goal for Columbus this year. If head coach John Tortorella chooses to rest him, however, the team could roll with Joonas Korpisalo (4-5), who has a .904 save percentage and 3.10 goals against average this year.
The visiting Blue Jackets have relied heavily on Artemi Panarin and Seth Jones this year. Panarin has 36 points on 11 goals and 25 assists, and has recorded two or more points in seven different games. Jones has seven goals and 21 assists to his credit (and has logged at least one point in 21 games).
On the other side of the rink, Buffalo is 10-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 22.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 43 regular season contests, 22 of its games have gone under the total, while 18 have gone over and just three have pushed. This season, the team is 5-14 SU as the home team.
The Sabres have converted on just 12.9 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s ranked 30th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 25th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Sabres players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.6 times per game in total this season, 3.8 per game over their last five contests total, and 3.6 per game over their last five home outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties 9.8 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Robin Lehner has denied 26.6 shots per game as the top choice in goal for the Sabres. Lehner has nine wins, 24 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit and has maintained a mediocre 2.94 goals against average and a subpar .910 save percentage this year.
The Sabres will be led on offense by Jack Eichel (17 goals, 22 assists).
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Buffalo Sabres Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Four of Columbus’ last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 2-2 in those games and 5-3 overall in shootouts this season.
The total has gone over in three of Buffalo’s last five outings.
Columbus has managed 30.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Buffalo has been attempting 36.2 shots per game over its last five home outings.
Buffalo has allowed 3.5 goals per game this year, but is allowing 4.8 goals per matchup on its five-game losing skid.
Six of Buffalo’s last ten outings have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 1-5 overall in those games.
This game features two of the tougher teams in the league. Columbus skaters have accounted for the league’s 12th-most hits per game (21.8) while the Sabres have tallied the seventh-most (23.4).
