Buffalo Sabres vs Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Pick & Prediction 10/17/24

The Sabres and Blue Jackets are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Blue Jackets will host the game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. The Sabres are favored by -1.5 in this Eastern conference contest against the Blue Jackets. The game’s over/under currently sits at 6.5 goals.

BUFFALO SABRES VS COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets +1.5

This game will be played at Nationwide Arena at 7:00 ET on Thursday, October 17th.

WHY BET THE COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS:

• Coming in as 1.5 goal favorites, our projections have the Sabres picking up a 4-3 win.
• Take the Sabres on the moneyline
• On the puck line, we like Blue Jackets (+1.5)

Will the Sabres Come Through as Road Favorites?

Buffalo fell to 1-3-1 after a 6-5 overtime loss to the Penguins. The Sabres led 3-1 after the first period, but the Penguins tied it up in the second and eventually won with a power-play goal in overtime.

The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for 11. As underdogs on the puck line, Buffalo failed to cover. Four different Sabres players scored in the game.

Buffalo’s offense found the net five times in their 6-5 OT loss to Pittsburgh. JJ Peterka scored twice, including his first and second goals of the season. Ryan McLeod added his first goal of the year, while Jordan Greenway netted his second. The Sabres scored three times in the first period and added two more in the third.

Buffalo took 33 shots on goal and recorded 17 giveaways. Alex Tuch picked up two assists, bringing his season total to four. Bowen Byram also contributed with his third assist of the year.

Buffalo’s defense struggled to maintain a late lead, giving up the tying goal with just 46 seconds left in the 3rd period and the game-winner 1:38 into overtime. The Sabres also allowed the first goal of the game at 11:01 in the 1st period and two more in the 2nd. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen posted a save percentage of 86% on 43 shots from the Penguins.

Will Columbus Win at Home?

Columbus dropped to 1-2-0 after a 4-3 loss to the Panthers. The Blue Jackets were underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 6.5 goals was surpassed, with the teams combining for 7.

Columbus took the lead with a short-handed goal at 19:19 in the second period, but the Panthers responded with four straight goals. The Blue Jackets scored again at 17:21 in the third period, but it wasn’t enough to catch up.

Columbus fired 38 shots on goal but only found the net three times in their 4-3 loss to Florida. Cole Sillinger opened the scoring with his first goal of the season, coming on a shorthanded effort. Sean Monahan added his second goal of the year, while James van Riemsdyk scored his second as well, with 2:39 left in the game.

The Blue Jackets had 10 giveaways and were shut out in the first period. They scored twice in the second, with Sillinger’s goal coming just 41 seconds into the period. Columbus added a third goal late in the third period.

Defensively, Columbus struggled late, giving up the final two goals in a 4-3 loss to Florida. The Blue Jackets had taken a 2-1 lead at 8:38 in the 2nd period, but they allowed goals at 0:02 in the 2nd and 4:48 in the 3rd. Goalie Elvis Merzlikins made 18 saves with an 81.8% save percentage, while the defense recorded 7 takeaways and 17 hits.