Buffalo Sabres vs Columbus Blue Jackets prediction
Buffalo Sabres 5–, Columbus Blue Jackets 2
FT
Puck drop 19:00 ET
1X2 1.831X2 odds up 3.50
KeyBank Center (Buffalo, NY) · USAKeyBank Center (Buffalo, NY)
Team
1st
2nd
3rd
BUF
2
3
0
CBJ
1
0
1
62%Buffalo win · 50% in regulationBUF
Overtime or shootout · 22%OT / SO 22%
38%Columbus win · 28% in regulationCBJ
Chance to win · 50% and 28% in regulation
Best tip of the gameBest tip
Handicap
Lost
Blue Jackets +2.5
odds down 1.30
Confidence69%
All predictions
9 picks graded · Average confidence 65%Full game
- 1X2WonSabresodds up 1.90Confidence 51%
- Over/UnderWonU7.5odds down 1.35Confidence 70%
- Best tip of the game: HandicapLostBlue Jackets +2.5odds down 1.30Confidence 69%
- Winner (incl. OT)WonSabresodds up 1.55Confidence 63%
- Double chanceWonSabres or draw1.32Confidence 72%
- Draw no betWonSabres1.52Confidence 66%
- Both teams to score (GG/NG)WonYes1.07Confidence 88%
1st period
- 1st period 1X2WonSabresodds down 2.42Confidence 51%
- 1st period Over/UnderWonO1.5odds up 1.71Confidence 55%
How to read the picks
Confidence is the model’s own score for a pick, out of 100. It is not a probability, but picks with higher confidence have won more often. The score details show the model’s probability instead — they are not picks.
Why some of these picks carry a lower confidence: the league is not yet proven in the model’s replay; no record yet for this market in the model’s replay.
Predicted final score
What the picks are derived from. Not a bet.
Sabres 4–2
Blue Jackets
Total goalsTotal
6
Actual 7
Draw after 60 minDraw
22%
Decided in regulation
Buffalo to winTo win
62%
BUF won
Score details
- Correct scoreLost4–2After 60 min5–24%chance
- 1st period correct scoreLost2–01st period2–18%chance
- Highest scoring periodLost3rd periodMost goalsTie · 1st & 2nd30%chance
Score breakdown
- After 60 minutes 4-2
- By period 2-0, 0-1, 2-1
- Likeliest 4-2 (4%), 3-2 (3%), 3-1 (3%)
Team stats
Shots & goaltending
Special teams
Possession & hits
Shots & goaltending
Special teams
Possession & hits
Built on 20+ games of full box scores a team — no betting odds in it
Season so far
Season and recent form
Season
Buffalo Sabres
Columbus Blue Jackets
Buffalo Sabres
Columbus Blue Jackets
Season recordBuffalo Sabres 7-5-3Columbus Blue Jackets 7-7-0
Home / road splitBuffalo Sabres 3-4-0Columbus Blue Jackets 1-4-0
StreakBuffalo Sabres L1Columbus Blue Jackets W2
RestBuffalo Sabres 1 dayColumbus Blue Jackets Back-to-back
Goals forBuffalo Sabres 2.9Columbus Blue Jackets 2.7
Goals againstBuffalo Sabres 3.4Columbus Blue Jackets 3.0
In the standingsBuffalo Sabres 10thColumbus Blue Jackets 15th
Per game · last 10 each
Goal differential per gameBuffalo Sabres +0.2Columbus Blue Jackets −0.4
Goals forBuffalo Sabres 3.3Columbus Blue Jackets 2.4
Goals againstBuffalo Sabres 3.1Columbus Blue Jackets 2.8
Shots on goalBuffalo Sabres 28.4Columbus Blue Jackets 24.6
Shots againstBuffalo Sabres 30.1Columbus Blue Jackets 27.0
Shooting %Buffalo Sabres 11.6%Columbus Blue Jackets 9.8%
Save %Buffalo Sabres 89.7%Columbus Blue Jackets 90.4%
Power-play %Buffalo Sabres 18.9%Columbus Blue Jackets 9.4%
Penalty kill %Buffalo Sabres 75.0%Columbus Blue Jackets 75.0%
Faceoff %Buffalo Sabres 44.2%Columbus Blue Jackets 50.6%
Penalty minutesBuffalo Sabres 10.2Columbus Blue Jackets 8.0
HitsBuffalo Sabres 18.8Columbus Blue Jackets 23.8
Blocked shotsBuffalo Sabres 13.3Columbus Blue Jackets 14.0
Per game · BUF at home, CBJ away
Goal differential per gameBuffalo Sabres −1.4Columbus Blue Jackets −1.2
Goals forBuffalo Sabres 2.1Columbus Blue Jackets 2.1
Goals againstBuffalo Sabres 3.5Columbus Blue Jackets 3.3
Shots on goalBuffalo Sabres 29.6Columbus Blue Jackets 24.3
Shots againstBuffalo Sabres 24.0Columbus Blue Jackets 25.7
Shooting %Buffalo Sabres 7.1%Columbus Blue Jackets 8.6%
Save %Buffalo Sabres 85.8%Columbus Blue Jackets 88.3%
Power-play %Buffalo Sabres 10.8%Columbus Blue Jackets 9.7%
Penalty kill %Buffalo Sabres 73.7%Columbus Blue Jackets 83.3%
Faceoff %Buffalo Sabres 46.2%Columbus Blue Jackets 52.6%
Penalty minutesBuffalo Sabres 9.8Columbus Blue Jackets 6.3
HitsBuffalo Sabres 22.0Columbus Blue Jackets 22.1
Blocked shotsBuffalo Sabres 16.7Columbus Blue Jackets 16.1
Per-game figures from the games with full stats, all competitions.
Head-to-head
Sabres 2–3
Blue Jackets
Goals a gameGoals
6.6
BUF 3.4 · CBJ 3.2
Over 6.0 goalsOver 6.0
2 of 5
This game’s line
Past 60 minutesOvertime
1 of 5
1 in overtime
- Oct 1, 2026: Columbus Blue Jackets 6, Buffalo Sabres 3.
- Sep 22, 2026: Buffalo Sabres 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 1.
- Apr 9, 2026: Buffalo Sabres 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 0.
- Jan 3, 2026: Columbus Blue Jackets 5, Buffalo Sabres 1.
- Oct 28, 2025: Buffalo Sabres 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 4, after overtime.
Last five games
Sabres
3-1-1 - Loss, 1–2 against Ottawa Senators, Nov 4. Odds: Sabres 2.10, Senators 2.75.
- Win, 3–2 at Los Angeles Kings, Oct 31. Odds: Kings 2.80, Sabres 2.10.
- Win, 7–6 at Anaheim Ducks, Oct 29. Odds: Ducks 2.94, Sabres 2.05.
- Win, 2–0 at San Jose Sharks, Oct 27. Odds: Sharks 2.90, Sabres 1.96.
- Overtime loss, 3–4 at Washington Capitals, after overtime, Oct 24. Odds: Capitals 2.20, Sabres 2.60.
Blue Jackets
3-2-0 - Win, 2–1 against Dallas Stars, after a shootout, Nov 5. Odds: Blue Jackets 2.85, Stars 2.10.
- Win, 7–2 against Colorado Avalanche, Nov 3. Odds: Blue Jackets 2.75, Avalanche 2.15.
- Loss, 1–3 at Dallas Stars, Oct 31. Odds: Stars 1.91, Blue Jackets 3.38.
- Loss, 2–3 at Carolina Hurricanes, Oct 29. Odds: Hurricanes 1.58, Blue Jackets 4.50.
- Win, 4–3 at Philadelphia Flyers, after overtime, Oct 27. Odds: Flyers 2.60, Blue Jackets 2.25.
Each side’s last five, every competition — W a win, L a loss, OT a loss after overtime or a shootout. Beside each team, its goals and its 1X2 odds before puck drop; the odds that came in are lit (none after overtime: the draw).
Game timeline
1st period2-1
- 01:45 2 min Columbus Blue Jackets: Severson D. Tripping
- 06:50 Goal Buffalo Sabres: Quinn J. assists: Power O., Timmins C. 1-0
- 16:00 Goal Columbus Blue Jackets: Johnson K. assists: Monahan S., Mateychuk D. 1-1
- 16:18 2 min Columbus Blue Jackets: Garland C. Interference
- 16:18 2 min Buffalo Sabres: Benson Z. Diving
- 18:10 Goal Buffalo Sabres: Norris J. assists: Power O. 2-1
- 19:23 2 min Columbus Blue Jackets: Severson D. Tripping
2nd period3-0
- 01:34 2 min Buffalo Sabres: — Too many men on the ice
- 04:30 Goal Buffalo Sabres: Dahlin R. assists: Krebs P., Power O. 3-1
- 09:46 Goal Buffalo Sabres: Norris J. assists: Benson Z., Thompson T. 4-1
- 10:53 Goal Buffalo Sabres: Doan J. assists: Ostlund N., Quinn J. 5-1
- 10:53 2 min Columbus Blue Jackets: — Delay of game
- 13:01 2 min Columbus Blue Jackets: Fabbro D. High sticking
- 15:24 2 min Buffalo Sabres: Power O. Tripping
3rd period0-1
- 16:45 2 min Buffalo Sabres: Kozak T. Tripping
- 18:21 Goal PPG Columbus Blue Jackets: Werenski Z. assists: Knies M., Johnson K. 5-2
Times are the minutes played in each period. PPG power-play goal, SHG short-handed goal, ENG empty-net goal, PS penalty shot. A shootout is won by one goal on the final score.
Key insights
- Second game in two days for Columbus Blue Jackets, who played yesterday.
- 1-4-0 away for Columbus Blue Jackets this season.
- 3-2 in the last 5 meetings for Columbus Blue Jackets.
- 6.6 goals per meeting across the last 5 head-to-head games; the total is 6.
- 10th vs 15th in the NHL standings.
How the odds moved
| Market | Opening | Now | Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1X2: 1 (BUF) | 1.83 | 1.83 | No change |
| 1X2: X (draw) | 4.25 | 4.25 | No change |
| 1X2: 2 (CBJ) | 3.40 | 3.50 | Drifted |
| Over/Under line | 6 | 6 | No change |
| Handicap BUF | −1.5 | −1.5 | No change |
Opening and current odds from the bookmakers we track; the handicap line is shown from the home team’s side.
NHL standings
Regular Season · Eastern Conference
| # | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | P% | GF | GA | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Carolina Hurricanes |
19 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 30 | .789 | 78 | 45 | +33 |
| 2 |  Boston Bruins |
18 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 27 | .750 | 68 | 41 | +27 |
| 3 |  Montreal Canadiens |
18 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 26 | .722 | 62 | 55 | +7 |
| 4 |  New Jersey Devils |
19 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 26 | .684 | 68 | 55 | +13 |
| 5 |  Tampa Bay Lightning |
17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 24 | .706 | 63 | 53 | +10 |
| 6 |  Ottawa Senators |
19 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 24 | .632 | 60 | 57 | +3 |
| 7 |  Florida Panthers |
19 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 22 | .579 | 60 | 56 | +4 |
| 8 |  New York Rangers |
19 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 21 | .553 | 56 | 55 | +1 |
| 9 |  Washington Capitals |
16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 20 | .625 | 56 | 53 | +3 |
| 10 | Buffalo Sabres |
17 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 19 | .559 | 50 | 57 | −7 |
| 11 |  New York Islanders |
17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 18 | .529 | 49 | 52 | −3 |
| 12 |  Toronto Maple Leafs |
20 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 18 | .450 | 67 | 70 | −3 |
| 13 |  Detroit Red Wings |
19 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 17 | .447 | 51 | 59 | −8 |
| 14 |  Philadelphia Flyers |
20 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 15 | .375 | 45 | 66 | −21 |
| 15 | Columbus Blue Jackets |
16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 14 | .438 | 41 | 51 | −10 |
| 16 |  Pittsburgh Penguins |
18 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 14 | .389 | 58 | 65 | −7 |
- Playoffs
Pts points, on the league’s own system — the table is sorted by them. W/L/OTL wins, regulation losses, overtime and shootout losses · GP played · P% points share · GF/GA goals for and against · +/− difference.
Buffalo Sabres host Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL on Friday, November 6, 2026. Who wins after 60 minutes, by how many goals, and how many goals in total — our 1X2, handicap and over/under picks come from one model, and every pick is marked won or lost for everyone to see. The model uses projected goals and shots, the starting goalies, recent form, the standings and the bookmakers’ current odds.