Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA – Photo by Icon sport
Blue Jackets vs Sabres: Both teams are desperate to win
In a matchup between two of the three worst teams in the NHL Eastern Conference, the Buffalo Sabres will host the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center. The Sabres have the worst home record in the conference, while the Blue Jackets have the worst one on the road.
Can the Sabres turn the season over?
The Buffalo Sabres have missed the playoffs in the last 12 seasons, and it seems like things will not change very soon. The Sabres are 14th in the Eastern Conference with a 13-6-3 record and are particularly bad at home with a 6-7-1 record. The Sabres have won back-to-back games only once this season and failed to score in the last one, losing 2-0 to the Arizona Coyotes.
Another disappointing season for the Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are 15th in the Eastern Conference with a 10-17-5 record, which is the fifth worst in the entire league. They have lost 5 of the last 7 games and are going to Buffalo after a 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils. They have the second-worst defense in the league, allowing 3.63 goals per game, with only San Jose Sharks allowing more.
Betting Trends
The Sabres are over total goals in 4 of the last 5 home games against the Blue Jackets and in 6 of the last 7 overall against the team from Ohio. Columbus is over in their last six games overall and in four of the last five games against Eastern Conference opponents.
A tough matchup for the visitors
The home team has won only once in the last seven games between these two teams. The last time they played in Buffalo, the Blue Jackets won 5-3, and the Sabres won the last one 5-2 in Columbus.
Injury Reports
Zemgus Girgensons, Jeff Skinner, Jack Quinn, and Jordan Greenway are out for the Sabres while the Blue Jackets will miss Patrik Laine, Boone Jenner, Jack Roslovic, Damon Severson, and Adam Boqvist.
Prediction and Conclusion
Both teams are having a disappointing season, and they have connected two wins in a row only three times this season combined. The Sabres have lost 3 of the last 4 home games while the Blue Jackets 3 of the last 4 on the road. There is no point in trying to go for the winner in this game but when it comes to the total goals, things are pretty clear. The last seven games between these two teams have seen at least seven goals, so there is no reason to break that streak.
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