If you’re searching for best bets for the Buffalo Sabres’ upcoming contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday at 7:00 PM ET, then you’ve come to the right spot. Read on, as we provide our picks and projections for this showdown.

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Sabres vs. Blue Jackets Picks

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Total Pick

Pick OU: Over 6.5 (model projecting 6.8 goals)

• Of Buffalo’s 82 games last season, 31 finished above this game’s total of 6.5 goals.
• Columbus played 42 games last season that finished with over 6.5 goals.
• These teams scored a combined 5.8 goals per game, 0.7 fewer than this one’s total.
• Opponents of these teams averaged 6.6 goals per game combined, 0.1 more than this one’s over/under.
• The Blue Jackets were 24th in the league in goals scored, compared to the 23rd-ranked Sabres.
• The Sabres were 11th in the league in goals conceded, and the Blue Jackets were 31st.

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Moneyline Pick

Sabres Moneyline: -132

• The Sabres won 19 of their 30 games when listed as a moneyline favorite last season (63.3%).
• When it played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -132 or shorter, Buffalo had an 11-8 record (winning 57.9% of its games).
• The Sabres have a 56.9% chance to win this matchup based on the moneyline’s implied probability.

Blue Jackets Moneyline: +111

• The Blue Jackets were an underdog in 75 games last season, with 23 upset wins (30.7%).
• Columbus was 22-46 as an underdog of +111 or longer on the moneyline last season.
• The Blue Jackets have a 47.4% chance to win this game (implied from the moneyline).

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Score Prediction

Prediction:
Buffalo 4, Columbus 3

Sabres Points Leaders (2023-24)

• Alex Tuch was one of Buffalo’s leading contributors a season ago, totaling 59 points. He averaged 0.3 goals per game, shooting 11.5%.
• Rasmus Dahlin had 20 goals and 39 assists for Buffalo last season, totaling 59 points (0.7 per game).
• Tage Thompson generated 56 points for Buffalo in 71 games last season, netting a goal on 11.8% of his shots and recording 29 goals and 27 assists.
• In 54 games played last season, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (27-22-4) yielded 132 goals.

Blue Jackets Points Leaders (2023-24)

• Sean Monahan was a top offensive contributor for his club last season with 59 points (0.7 per game). He scored 26 goals and 33 assists in 83 games (playing 17:52 per game).
• Columbus’ Zachary Werenski racked up 57 total points (0.8 per game), with 11 goals and 46 assists.
• Kirill Marchenko had 23 goals and 19 assists for Buffalo.
• Elvis Merzlikins had an .897 save percentage (47th in the league) last season, conceding 130 goals (3.4 goals against average). He put together a 13-17-8 record between the pipes for Columbus.

Sabres’ Schedule

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Blue Jackets’ Schedule

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Buffalo vs. Columbus Game Info

• Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
• Time: 7:00 PM ET
• How to watch on TV: ESPN+
• Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)
• Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
• Location: Columbus, Ohio
• Venue: Nationwide Arena

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