Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres Betting Pick & Prediction 2/4/25

Betting on today’s Blue Jackets and Sabres game? Catch the action at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY, as the Sabres hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under goal line for this matchup is currently at 6.5 goals, and the Sabres are -1.5 goal favorite to win at home against the Blue Jackets.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS VS BUFFALO SABRES BETTING PICK

The Pick: Buffalo Sabres -1.5

This game will be played at KeyBank Center at 7:00 ET on Tuesday, February 4th.

WHY BET THE BUFFALO SABRES:

  • With the Sabres being favored by 1.5, our NHL analytics models has this one playing out 4-3 in favor of the Sabres.
  • Take the Sabres on the moneyline
  • On the spread, we like Blue Jackets (+1.5)

Can the Blue Jackets Pull Out the Win as Road Underdogs?

Columbus dropped to 26-20-7 after a 7-2 road loss to the Capitals. The Blue Jackets’ defense struggled early, giving up five goals in the first period.

The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for 9. Columbus, as underdogs on the puck line, failed to cover.

Columbus fired 36 shots on goal but only found the net twice in their 7-2 loss to Washington. Damon Severson scored his 4th goal of the season, while Kevin Labanc added his 2nd. The Blue Jackets were held scoreless in the first period before Severson got them on the board 49 seconds into the second period.

Columbus had 13 giveaways in the game and didn’t convert on any power play opportunities. Adam Fantilli picked up his 4th assist on Severson’s goal, and Sean Monahan recorded his 5th assist on Labanc’s goal.

Columbus’s defense struggled early, allowing five goals in the first period. After closing the gap to 6-2, they conceded again at 18:34 in the third, leading to a 7-2 loss. Daniil Tarasov made 15 saves with a 68.2% save percentage.

Can the Sabres Please their Home Crowd?

Buffalo’s record fell to 21-26-5 after a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings. The Sabres took the lead in the first period, but Detroit responded with two goals in the second to secure the win. Buffalo entered as underdogs on the puck line, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, with the combined score of 3 falling short of that mark.

Alex Tuch scored the Sabres’ only goal, which came at 11:39 in the first period. However, the Red Wings tied it up at 7:49 in the second and added another goal later in the period. Tuch’s goal was unassisted and short-handed, as Buffalo failed to record an assist in the game.

Buffalo’s offense managed just one goal in their 2-1 loss to Detroit, with Alex Tuch scoring his fifth of the season on a shorthanded effort. The Sabres fired 32 shots on goal but were unable to find the net again.

Buffalo’s lone goal came at 8:21 in the first period. The Sabres had 13 giveaways and failed to capitalize on any of their power play opportunities.

Defensively, the Sabres will look to bounce back after giving up two power-play goals in their previous game against the Red Wings. Both goals came in the second period, turning a 1-0 lead into a 2-1 deficit. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen finished with 21 saves and a 91.3% save percentage, while the Sabres’ defense added 5 takeaways and 17 hits.