NHL: Buffalo Sabres vs Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Line
Buffalo 3-2 Last Five Games, Both Out of Playoff Picture
You know it’s difficult to find positives to talk about when a recent 3-2 record is what you’re left to highlight when it comes to the Buffalo Sabres (25-27-4, 54 points) or the Columbus Blue Jackets (18-27-10, 46 points).
With a glance at the NHL standings, these two teams will meet in Columbus with very little on the line but that’s why we have gambling to spice it up some. The Sabres opened as a rare road favorite (-138) with a total of 6.5 (over -126). It will be the eighth time this season that the Sabres will go off as road dogs, a situation they excelled in winning five times (+1.35 units).
The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT and can be seen on MSG Buffalo and Bally’s Sports Ohio. Let’s get to our Sabres vs Jackets betting line preview.
Sabres vs Jackets 
Day/Time:
Location: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Streaming: NHL NET
Sabres Look To Continue Road Streak
We did find another nugget to highlight before a match-up that will be witnessed by dozens, the Buffalo Sabres have won six of their last seven road games. Wins against Pittsburgh (+143), Los Angeles (+170), and Minnesota (+125) were a direct reflection of better goaltending and key players like Alex Tuch and Jeff Skinner getting in the scoring column.
It’s been eight games since the Sabres have given up three goals or more in back-to-back games after holding the Montreal Canadiens to just two in a 3-2 road win Wednesday. In that span, Buffalo has given up just 19 goals (2.38/game).
Most of that success has come in front of goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen who has won three of his last four starts and owns a .923 save percentage over his last 10 games (5-5 record). Against Ottawa, we saw Tuch get the game-winner in the second period with his fourth point in five games.
A mark has been matched by first-liner Tage Thompson (1G, 4 A) and exceeded by second-line forward Jordan Greenway who has five points in his last five games and eight in 10. There is talent in Buffalo but there isn’t the glue guy to hold them together.
The Sabres desperately need depth but another top-six scorer should be the focus this off-season. We continue our Sabres vs betting Jackets line preview by swinging over to Columbus.
The Jackets Get A Road Win… Kind Of.
The Columbus Blue Jackets secured a 7-4 win against the Anaheim Ducks, on Wednesday, but even that win didn’t feel great for Pascal Vincent’s team after a 4-0 lead with 17:11 left in the second period turned into a 4-4 tie with 24 seconds left in the middle stanza.
You do have to give some credit because the Jackets could have easily come out in the second period and hung their head. Instead, they grabbed their second win on the road trip to finish 2-2. Columbus will be in a revenge spot after losing to Buffalo 3-2 (OT) at the end of December.
The Jackets held a 2-1 lead deep into the third before Casey Mittelstadt tied it up. Despite the final score, it was a game that the Sabres dominated with a 42-20 shot advantage. Columbus has won five of their last eight meetings.
We’re Betting On Plus Money
With the history of seven overs in their last nine head-to-head decisions, we’re guessing the public will be on the over but are they being baited? Usually, we’ll see a seven posted a the total (4 straight games) but this one we’re getting a 6.5.
Two of those games have climbed over the total with a push and an under. Three of the Jackets’ last four games have cashed over tickets and have averaged 8.25 goals per game, yet we’re given a number that seems to be paving the way for bettors to jump on the over.
We’re not falling for that, our official NHL score prediction has this game going under the total, giving us a sweet plus money winner.
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