Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Columbus Blue Jackets host the Buffalo Sabres for the first game of the season on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
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As the action begins for the start of the NHL season, here's who we predict will emerge victorious in Thursday's action.
Sabres vs. Blue Jackets Predictions for Thursday
Our computer projections model for this contest expects a final score of Sabres 4, Blue Jackets 3.
- Moneyline Pick: Sabres (-108)
- Total Pick: Over 6 (computer predicts 6.3 goals on average)
- Spread Pick: Blue Jackets (+1.5)
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Blue Jackets Splits and Trends
- The Blue Jackets (40-30-12 overall) had a 12-12-24 record last season in contests that went to overtime.
- Columbus was 11-13-10 (32 points) in its 34 games decided by one goal.
- Looking at the 17 times last season the Blue Jackets finished a game with just one goal, they had a 3-11-3 record, picking up nine points.
- Columbus lost all 11 games last season when it scored exactly two goals.
- The Blue Jackets scored at least three goals 50 times, and went 37-4-9 in those games (to record 83 points).
- In the 23 games when Columbus recorded a lone power-play goal, it had a 15-3-5 record (35 points).
- In the 47 games last season when it outshot its opponent, Columbus was 24-16-7 (55 points).
- The Blue Jackets were outshot by their opponent in 33 games, going 15-13-5 to register 35 points.
Sabres Splits and Trends
- The Sabres had a record of 50-23-9 last season and were 8-11-19 in overtime games.
- Buffalo picked up 34 points (12-3-10) in its 25 games decided by one goal.
- Last season the Sabres scored only one goal in 10 games, and they picked up two points (0-8-2).
- When Buffalo scored exactly two goals last season, they amassed 13 points (6-11-1 record).
- The Sabres picked up 110 points in their 64 games when they scored at least three goals.
- Buffalo scored a lone power-play goal in 29 games last season and recorded 41 points.
- When outshooting its opponent last season, Buffalo was 25-14-3 (53 points).
- The Sabres' opponents had more shots in 52 games last season. The Sabres went 31-13-8 in those contests (70 points).
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Team Stats Comparison (2025-26)
| Blue Jackets Rank | Blue Jackets AVG | Sabres AVG | Sabres Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18th | 3.00 | Goals Scored | 3.45 | 5th |
| 16th | 3.06 | Goals Allowed | 2.93 | 10th |
| 6th | 29.2 | Shots | 28.1 | 11th |
| 21st | 28.6 | Shots Allowed | 28.9 | 23rd |
| 21st | 19.00% | Power Play % | 19.51% | 20th |
| 28th | 76.23% | Penalty Kill % | 81.90% | 4th |
Sabres vs. Blue Jackets Game Time and TV Channel
- When: Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN+
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
- Where: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio
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