Columbus Blue Jackets at Buffalo Sabres Prediction and Picks - October 28, 2025
Use Code WWWC Tuesday night NHL Hockey action, and we have a Columbus Blue Jackets at Buffalo Sabres Prediction ready to rock and roll. The Blue Jackets come in off a 5-4 road shootout win over the Penguins to move to 4-4 on the year. Buffalo is now 4-5 on the year after a 4-3 road loss in OT to the Maple Leafs. Columbus won two of the three meetings between these teams last year. Read on to see our Blue Jackets vs Sabres prediction.
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Jackets At .500 On The Year
Columbus comes into Buffalo riding the momentum of a 5-4 shootout win over Pittsburgh on Oct. 25, a result that snapped a brief skid and showcased their resilience. Dmitri Voronkov was the standout, scoring twice in regulation, while Yegor Chinakhov and Charlie Coyle also found the net. The Jackets nearly let a two-goal lead slip away late in the third, but they steadied themselves in the shootout, converting all three attempts before Elvis Merzlikins sealed the victory with a stop on Evgeni Malkin. That kind of composure on the road was a welcome sign for a team that has been inconsistent through the early part of the season.
Offensively, Columbus has been middle-of-the-pack, averaging 3.0 goals per game with 24 total through eight contests. Voronkov and Kirill Marchenko have been the primary finishers, combining for 10 goals, while captain Boone Jenner continues to provide steady two-way play. The power play, however, has been a weakness, converting just 15 percent of its chances (3-for-20), ranking near the bottom of the league. At even strength, the Jackets have been more effective, outscoring opponents 21-14, but they’ve struggled to sustain pressure consistently. Their ability to generate secondary scoring beyond the top line will be critical against a Sabres team that can match them stride for stride offensively.
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Defensively, Columbus has allowed 25 goals (3.1 per game), which places them in the middle tier of the NHL. Merzlikins has been solid with a .902 save percentage, but the Jackets have leaned heavily on him to bail them out of defensive lapses. Zach Werenski anchors the blue line, logging heavy minutes and driving transition play, but the group as a whole has been prone to breakdowns in their own zone. Against Buffalo’s skilled forwards, particularly Tage Thompson and Zach Benson, Columbus will need to tighten its coverage and avoid costly penalties that could expose their struggling penalty kill.
Sabres Fall Short In Toronto
Buffalo enters this matchup at 4-4-1, most recently falling 4-3 in overtime to Toronto on Oct. 25. Tage Thompson was the star of that game, scoring twice—including a power-play tally in the third period that briefly gave the Sabres the lead. Bowen Byram added the other goal, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 18 saves in his season debut after returning from injury. Despite the loss, Buffalo earned three of a possible four points in the home-and-home set with the Maple Leafs, a sign of progress for a team still searching for consistency in the early going.
The Sabres’ offense has been balanced, producing 27 goals in nine games (3.0 per game). Thompson leads the way with four goals and eight points, while Rasmus Dahlin has been a steady playmaker from the blue line with seven assists. Rookie Zachary Benson has also impressed, tallying eight assists in just six games, giving Buffalo another creative option up front. The power play has been a strength, converting at 23.3 percent (7-for-30), ranking 12th in the league. That efficiency with the man advantage could be a decisive factor against a Columbus penalty kill that has struggled to find rhythm.
Defensively, Buffalo has allowed 27 goals (3.0 per game), placing them in the middle of the pack. Their penalty kill, however, has been excellent, operating at 93.9 percent, one of the best marks in the NHL. Alex Lyon and Luukkonen have shared the crease, with Lyon carrying a .903 career save percentage and Luukkonen looking sharp in his return. The Sabres’ blue line, led by Dahlin and Byram, has been active in transition but occasionally vulnerable to turnovers. Against Columbus, Buffalo will look to use its speed and puck movement to tilt the ice, while relying on its strong special teams to create separation in what projects to be a tightly contested matchup.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Buffalo Sabres Pick
Blue Jackets vs Sabres Moneyline Pick
- Buffalo -115 (4 Units)
Backing Buffalo here makes sense given how their strengths line up against Columbus’ weaknesses. The Sabres’ power play has been sharp at over 23 percent, and with Zach Benson and Rasmus Dahlin creating chances from the blue line, they’ve been able to generate consistent pressure. Tage Thompson remains the centerpiece, capable of breaking open games with his size and shot, and he’s coming off a strong stretch of production. Against a Blue Jackets penalty kill that has struggled to find rhythm, Buffalo’s ability to capitalize on special teams could tilt the ice in their favor.
Defensively, Buffalo’s penalty kill has been one of the best in the league, operating near 94 percent, which neutralizes one of Columbus’ few avenues to swing momentum. The Sabres’ goaltending tandem of Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been steady enough to support their structure, and their blue line has been active in transition without sacrificing too much in their own zone. Columbus has leaned heavily on Elvis Merzlikins to keep them competitive, but Buffalo’s depth scoring and puck movement should create more sustained chances. With home ice and stronger special teams, the Sabres look like the side to trust in this matchup.
Blue Jackets vs Sabres Over/Under Pick
- Over 6.5 (5 Units)
The over 6.5 feels like the right angle here given how both teams have been playing. Columbus has leaned on offense to stay competitive, averaging three goals per game but also giving up over three on the other end, which has led to plenty of high-event contests. Buffalo, meanwhile, has matched that pace with 27 goals in nine games and a power play clicking at over 23 percent, while their defense has been just average at five-on-five. With both clubs ranking in the middle of the pack defensively and featuring top-end talent like Tage Thompson, Zach Benson, and Dmitri Voronkov capable of sparking quick strikes, this matchup has the ingredients for a back-and-forth game that pushes past the total.
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