The Columbus Blue Jackets (19-35-6) meet the Buffalo Sabres (31-23-4) Tuesday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/hulu). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Blue Jackets vs. Sabres odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Blue Jackets are coming off a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in overtime at the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, although Columbus has managed to pick up points in 5 of the last 6 games overall.
Buffalo is on a roll, picking up 3 straight victories, and 5 wins in the last 6 outings. The Sabres are averaging 5.0 goals per game (GPG) across the last 6 contests.
The Sabres picked up a 9-4 win against the Sabres in Columbus in the 1st meeting on Dec. 7 and will play the final regular-season meeting there on April 14.
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Blue Jackets at Sabres odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:37 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Blue Jackets +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Sabres -210 (bet $210 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blue Jackets +1.5 (-130) | Sabres -1.5 (+110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -135 | U: +115)
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Blue Jackets at Sabres projected goalies
Elvis Merzlikins (6-15-2, 4.14 GAA, .876 SV%) vs. Craig Anderson (9-7-2, 2.70 GAA, .920 SV%, 1 SO)
Merzlikins has allowed exactly 3 goals in each of his last 5 starts, and 7 of the previous 8 starting assignments. He is 1-1-2 with a 2.92 GAA and .908 SV% in 4 February starts. It might not seem like much, but it is easily his most productive month of the season.
Anderson allowed just a single goal on 50 shots in a win at Florida last Friday, and he is 1-1-0 with a 2.53 GAA and .930 SV% in 2 starts and 3 appearances in February.
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Blue Jackets at Sabres picks and predictions
Prediction
Sabres 4, Blue Jackets 2
Moneyline
The Sabres (-210) will cost you more than twice your potential return, and that’s quite expensive, even for a red-hot team trying to keep its playoff hopes afloat.
PASS.
Puck line/Against the spread
The SABRES -1.5 (+110) are a much better value on the puck line at plus-money. Buffalo has snuck into 4th place in the Atlantic Division, and it is within a single point of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
While that’s nice, Buffalo is still just 12-15-2 in 29 games at home. The Sabres have covered the last 4 games on the puck line when favored.
Over/Under
The UNDER 6.5 (+115) is worth a look at plus-money.
While the Over has dominated for the Sabres lately, winning 6 of the last 8 games overall, the Under is 6-0 in the last 6 after scoring 5 or more goals in the previous outing.
The Under is also 6-1 in the last 7 games overall for the Blue Jackets, while cashing in 5 of the last 6 against winning teams. The Under is 5-1-1 in the last 7 games on the road.
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