Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, and the Buffalo Sabres are set to face off against Artemi Panarin, Cam Atkinson, and the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in an Eastern Conference showdown. Fox Sports Ohio will air the matchup, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 29.
Buffalo Sabres at Columbus Blue Jackets Odds
The Blue Jackets (-175) are being chosen as the favorites over the Sabres (+155) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 for the over and +100 for the under.
Netting moneyline bettors 1.4 units, Columbus is 28-20 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is fairly close to the 45-37 record the team produced during last year’s regular season campaign. Among its 48 games this season, 18 have gone under the total, while 18 have gone over and just four have pushed. This year, the team’s 14-11 SU at home.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 14.6 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that puts them in the bottom-5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated seventh overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.9 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 25.8 saves per game with a .904 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (19-15-1) has been the primary option in goal for the Jackets this year. If the Jackets, however, decide to give him a breather, head coach John Tortorella might turn to Joonas Korpisalo (9-10-10 record, .901 save percentage, 2.95 goals against average).
In the other locker room, Buffalo is 24-24 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 4.0 units this year. A total of 26 of its matches have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under the total and just one has pushed. The Sabres are 10-15 SU as the road team this season.
The Sabres have converted on 17.0 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 10th overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
Carter Hutton (27.4 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Buffalo. Hutton owns a 14-17-3 record, and has registered a .912 save percentage and 2.75 goals against average this year.
Buffalo Sabres at Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Picks
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Blue Jackets, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The total has gone under in four of Columbus’ last five games.
- Columbus has attempted 31.8 shots per contest overall this season (ranked 15th in the NHL), and 36.0 in their last five home games.
- Over Buffalo’s last ten games, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-3 in those games).
- Buffalo skaters notched 21.5 hits per game last season, while the Blue Jackets logged 21.8 hits per matchup.
