Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM EDT
Venue: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
TV/Streaming: MSG-B (Sabres market), FDSNOH (Blue Jackets market), SN; available on ESPN+ in select areas. Pregame on MSG begins at 6:30 PM.
Team Records and Standings Context
Buffalo Sabres: 48-23-8 (104 points), leading the Atlantic Division and positioned strongly for a top Eastern Conference seed. They boast one of the league’s most potent offenses with 3.42 goals per game (7th) and a solid 2.99 goals-against average (12th). Home record: 25-10-4.
Columbus Blue Jackets: 39-27-12 (90 points), 4th in the Metropolitan Division and battling for an Eastern Conference wild-card spot (currently two points back of Ottawa). They sit at 3.05 goals for and 3.06 against per game. Road record: 19-16-4.
Both teams are in the final week of the regular season. Buffalo seeks to lock in home-ice advantage and regain momentum after a solid but inconsistent stretch. Columbus remains desperate for points in a tight wild-card race.
Recent Team Forms (Last 10 Games)
Sabres: 5-3-2. They earned a gritty 5-3 comeback win over the Rangers on Wednesday (April 8), outshooting New York 8-1 in the third period with goals from Alex Tuch, Jason Zucker, and Zach Benson. Buffalo has shown resilience in trailing-after-two scenarios (fourth such win this season) but has had recent puck-management issues.
Blue Jackets: 3-6-1. They snapped a six-game skid with a dramatic shootout win over Detroit on Tuesday but have otherwise struggled offensively in recent weeks. They are 7-2 straight-up in their last nine April games overall.
Injury Report
Buffalo Sabres (updates expected after 5 PM media availability and warm-ups):
Alex Lyon: Day-to-day (lower-body tweak from Wednesday morning skate; availability uncertain).
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Expected to rest after starting Wednesday.
Jiri Kulich: Out for the season (ear).
Sam Carrick: Out (arm).
Justin Danforth: Out (lower body).
Noah Ostlund: Day-to-day (upper body).
Jordan Greenway: Expected to return to the lineup.
If Lyon is unavailable, Colten Ellis is the likely starter (first start since early February).
Columbus Blue Jackets:
Brendan Smith: Out (knee surgery, long-term).
Mathieu Olivier: Out (upper body).
Dmitri Voronkov: Out (upper body/hand).
Damon Severson: Out for the season (shoulder).
Others scratched as needed (e.g., Zach Aston-Reese, Luca Del Bel Belluz in recent games).
Player Matchups and Key Players to Watch
Sabres Offense vs. Blue Jackets Defense: Buffalo’s depth is elite (13 players with 10+ goals, NHL high). Watch Zach Benson (career-high 12 goals, five in last 10 games, including a two-goal night Wednesday), Alex Tuch (net-front presence, tied game vs. Rangers), and Jason Zucker (team-high seven game-winners). Rasmus Dahlin (71 points) anchors the blue line. Ryan McLeod has been strong on faceoffs (52.9% over last 16 games).
Blue Jackets Counter: Zach Werenski leads with 80 points (22G, 58A) and has been on a tear (multi-point games, including a goal and assist Tuesday). Kirill Marchenko (26G, 39A, 65P) provides scoring punch. Columbus will rely on defensive structure and opportunistic counterattacks.
Goaltending: Buffalo’s starter is TBD but likely Ellis or Lyon (if healthy); the team has performed well in the second half of back-to-backs (8-1-3 this season). Columbus likely starts Jet Greaves (strong recent form) or Elvis Merzlikins.
Expect physical net-front battles and special-teams play to decide the game.
Series History (2025-26 Season)
Buffalo has not beaten Columbus this season (0-2-0). The Blue Jackets lead the season series:
October: Sabres lost 4-3 in OT at home.
January 3: Blue Jackets blew out Sabres 5-1 in Columbus (snapping Buffalo’s 10-game win streak).
All-time, the Sabres hold a slight historical edge, but this year’s matchups have favored Columbus.
Betting Trends
Columbus: 4-1 SU in last five meetings vs. Buffalo; 1-6 SU in last seven overall; UNDER in six of last nine games and six of last seven road games. However, they are 7-2 SU in last nine April contests.
Buffalo: OVER in six of last nine games; strong at home but 3-2 ATS in recent games.
Game Odds
Columbus Blue Jackets 6.5
Buffalo Sabres – 130
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, April 8, 2026
