The Buffalo Sabres (25-27-4) and Columbus Blue Jackets (18-17-10) will collide for the third time this season on Friday night.
Buffalo won in Montreal Wednesday night, bringing them to 3-4-0 since the All-Star break. The Sabres are 10 points out of a playoff spot. It has been another lost season for this team thus far, but they did beat Columbus 3-2 the last time these teams met.
However, the Blue Jackets have an emphatic 9-4 victory over the Sabres. Columbus is last in the Eastern Conference but has won two of their past three games. Let’s see if they can add another two points in this one.
When these franchises battled the first two times, it was in Buffalo. Will the venue shift favor the Blue Jackets?
Buffalo Sabres vs Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Odds and Match Details
| Team | Puck Line | Total | ML |
| Sabres | -1.5
+180 |
Over 6.5
-130 |
-135 |
| Blue Jackets | +1.5
-218 |
Under 6.5
+100 |
+114 |
| **Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook and Subject to Change | |||
Fixture: Buffalo Sabres @ Columbus Blue Jackets
Date and Time: Friday, February 23, 2024, 7:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio
Injury Report
Sabres
Victor Olofsson – Out
Blue Jackets
Adam Fantilli – Out
Key Stats
Buffalo Sabres
Goals per game: 2.93
Goals against per game: 3.05
Power play percentage: 14.9%
Penalty kill percentage: 80.2%
Shots on goal per game: 31.6
Shots on goal allowed per game: 29.1
Face-off win percentage: 46.5%
Columbus Blue Jackets
Goals per game: 2.96
Goals against per game: 3.73
Power play percentage: 13.9%
Penalty kill percentage: 75.8%
Shots on goal per game: 30.0
Shots on goal allowed per game: 33.3
Face-off win percentage: 47.2%
Sabres vs. Blue Jackets Prediction
Neither team in this game likes to win twice in a row, but something has to give. Fortunately for the Sabres, they have a four-game winning streak on the road right now. They’ve scored at least three goals in all four of those games, 16 total, and have a better record in away games this season.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets haven’t won consecutive contests since November. Columbus has also allowed 22 goals in five games since the All-Star break. Friday’s home team has plenty of issues, chief among them stopping the puck. Roll with the Sabres to take this one.
Prediction: Buffalo Sabres ML (-135)
For More Sports News:
Follow Andre on Twitter at @TowerTalkSports. You can also reach out to Andre Ifill via email at andre.ifill.jr@gmail.com. For Andre’s hockey talk, listen to this podcast every weekday. Andre also discusses the NFL, NBA, and MLB here. You can read and follow Andre’s betting picks at Winners and Whiners or read more of his stuff here on Total Apex Sports. He has spent years writing, talking, and picking sports professionally at the highest level.
