Buffalo at Columbus Betting Prediction, Pick & TV Info

Posted by Kenny Bell on Thursday,March 9, 2017 9:56, EDT in

If the Columbus Blue Jackets expect to catch the Washington Capitals for the top seed in the Eastern Conference along with the Metropolitan Division title, the Jackets can’t be losing to bad teams like Buffalo as the clubs face off Friday. Columbus will be a sizable home NHL betting favorite.

Buffalo at Columbus Betting Prediction, Pick & TV Info

When: Friday, March 10, 7 PM ET
Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus
TV: MSGB, FSOH
Stream: NHL.com/tv
Radio: Buffalo / Columbus
Opening NHL Lines: Jackets favored by TBA

Why Bet on Buffalo?

Buffalo comes in on a three-game skid, allowing 12 goals and scoring seven in those. On Tuesday, the Sabres lost 6-3 at home to Philadelphia. After a handful of close losses, the Sabres stayed close for only 20 minutes. Philadelphia pulled away to drop Buffalo to 1-5- 2 in the last games and 27-28- 12 overall.

The Flyers’ Claude Giroux snapped a 12-game goal drought and was credited with the eventual game-winner by capping a three-goal second-period surge that put the Flyers ahead 4-2. The Sabres’ woes during the second period continued. The teams opened the frame in a 1-1 tie, but the Flyers exited with a 4-2 lead. Buffalo fell to minus-24 this season during second periods, allowing 74 goals and scoring 50.

Jack Eichel had two goals and an assist for Buffalo. Eichel surpassed 100 career points in the game. He extended his personal best 11-game point streak in the process and now he has 101 points through the first 127 games of his career. Eichel has 19 points during his 11-game point streak. He’s up to 18 goals and 27 assists in 46 games this season.

Evander Kane notched a goal and an assist. He scored his 24th marker of the season during a first-period power play and added an assist on Eichel’s second goal of the game. Kane has been a consistently productive player for the Sabres since December after a very slow start. He has 10 goals in the last 14 contests.

Robin Lehner allowed six goals on 30 shots in the loss. Lehner has dropped back-to- back games and five of his last six. He has a 19-18- 8 record with a 2.67 goals-against- average and a .920 save percentage this season.

Why Bet on Columbus?

Columbus won for the third time in four games Tuesday, 2-0 over New Jersey – two days after winning 3-0 in New Jersey. Oliver Bjorkstrand scored the game-winning goal in Tuesday’s win. Bjorkstrand broke a 0-0 tie at the midway point of the third period and the Blue Jackets never looked back. The 21-year- old has now scored in back-to- back games. He’s up to four goals and four assists in 15 games.

Cam Atkinson added the empty-netter late in the game and reached the 30-goal milestone. Atkinson is the seventh Columbus player to ever enjoy a 30-goal campaign. He still has an outside chance of reaching the 40-goal mark too, which would make him the second Blue Jackets player to accomplish that feat after Rick Nash did it in 2003-04 and 2008-09.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 33 shots he faced on Tuesday. Bobrovsky has now posted three consecutive shutouts and he’s given up two goals or less in five consecutive contests. He has a 35-13- 4 record with a 2.05 goals-against- average and a .931 save percentage.

Bobrovsky’s shutout streak stands at 179:29 minutes. Columbus’ franchise record for a shutout streak belongs to Steve Mason, who had a streak of 199:19 minutes in his 2008-09 rookie season. It’s the second-longest streak of its kind this season behind Minnesota’s Devan Dubnyk, who earlier this season went 183:16 without allowing goal. Bobrovsky is tied for the league lead in victories with 35. He is third in goals-against average (2.05) and he’s tied for second in save percentage (.931).

Somehow, this is the first meeting of the season between the teams. They play again Saturday in Buffalo.

Buffalo at Columbus Betting Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets

Stick with Bobrovsky while he’s hot – go under the total. He could have another shutout.