Buffalo struggled on their recent road trip, suffering a crushing defeat against Calgary (2-5) and then falling short against another strong opponent, Edmonton (2-3). Despite their offensive line creating numerous dangerous chances in the attacking zone, they struggled with finishing. However, the Sabres managed to redeem themselves in front of their home crowd by dismantling Boston with an emphatic 7-2 victory. Their precise shooting allowed them to establish a three-goal lead by the start of the third period, which they only continued to build upon. Standout performances came from first-line forwards Peterka and Thompson, both netting hat tricks and contributing two assists each.
Continuing their home stand, the Sabres secured another win by edging out Nashville in regulation time (4-3). This time, Kulich stepped up, scoring twice, including the game-winner just two minutes before the final buzzer. Buffalo then hosted New Jersey and came out firing, netting three unanswered goals early in the game, leaving their opponent unable to recover. Once again, Thompson was the star, recording three points. The Sabres have been impressive on home ice, losing just two of their last eight games. However, even this strong run hasn’t been enough to lift them from the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, where they trail the playoff zone by 12 points—a daunting gap given the fierce competition in the NHL.
Injuries and Suspensions: Buffalo currently has three players sidelined due to injuries: Clifton, Greenway, and Kozak.
Betting Trends: Buffalo averages 9.39 penalty minutes per game. The Sabres struggle with discipline and frequently find themselves shorthanded. Buffalo takes an average of 27 shots on goal per game. The team isn’t known for generating a high volume of offensive opportunities.
Columbus has shown signs of improvement after a prolonged slump and has managed to string together a three-game winning streak, though not without difficulty. After a heavy 4-7 defeat to Carolina, the Blue Jackets returned home to face Los Angeles, where they clinched a hard-fought overtime victory (3-2). It seemed like a routine win until the Kings equalized in the final minute of regulation. Columbus had an opportunity to secure the victory in overtime via a penalty shot but failed to convert. Fortunately, they managed to score a minute and a half later to seal the win.
Next, Columbus hit the road to face Vegas, a formidable opponent. The team struggled both in creating and converting scoring chances, nearly leading to a loss. However, the game once again went to overtime, where Columbus managed to secure another narrow 2-1 victory, largely thanks to goaltender Tarasov’s outstanding performance—he stopped 31 of 33 shots.
As expected, Columbus extended their winning streak to three by defeating a team of their own caliber, Utah. However, it wasn’t an easy win—the Blue Jackets had to rally from a 0-2 deficit in the third period, eventually forcing overtime and clinching another 3-2 victory. Their next challenge came against Dallas, a team in top form. This time, Columbus’ winning streak came to an end due to poor defensive play, allowing the Stars to capitalize on their offensive opportunities. The result was a 3-5 defeat. Nevertheless, the points they accumulated were enough to push them into a playoff position, displacing Tampa Bay from the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Injuries and Suspensions: Columbus’ injury woes have worsened, with six players now out of action: Chinakhov, Fabbro, Gudbranson, Jenner, Marchenko, and Monahan.
Betting Trends: Columbus concedes an average of 3.38 goals per game. The team’s biggest weakness remains its defensive play. Columbus converts 22.6% of their power play opportunities. The team excels in capitalizing on opponent penalties, consistently producing results with a man advantage.
In the upcoming match, we can expect a large number of goals scored. Both teams have had huge problems in defense throughout the regular championship and constantly allow their opponents to realize their potential in attack. It is also worth paying attention to face-to-face meetings, in which the clubs are not used to sitting back in defense, preferring open hockey. Recently, Buffalo has been showing excellent play at the start of the match and quite often earns an advantage at the end of the starting segment. Our forecast is a victory for Buffalo in the first period.
Buffalo enters the upcoming game as the clear favorite, having hit great form and consistently earning points over the last three matches. What stands out is that the Sabres have not only defeated teams at their level but have also taken down stronger opponents. On the other hand, Columbus has not been as fortunate. The Blue Jackets have struggled, and their performance in away games has been particularly disappointing. We believe that, given their current form, the home team will be able to secure the desired result, and we suggest placing a bet on this outcome.
Bookmakers are offering odds of 2.04 on Buffalo, 4.66 on a draw, and 3.04 on Columbus. Total over 6.5 goals is offered at 2.20, total under at 1.73
Our prediction: Buffalo win at 2.01.
