Buffalo Sabres vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction: Expect a Total Over

Prediction for the NHL match which will take place on December 20. Who will turn out to be stronger? Check the team conditions! Several betting options are available.

Buffalo is having a bad regular season. A year earlier, they nearly made the playoffs, with many players progressing, and therefore, there was faith in a bright future for the club. Alas, the Yellow and Blues have failed to improve this season. On the contrary, they have seriously slowed down, and now they are far away from the cup eight. In the last ten games, the Blades have suffered seven defeats, beating only Boston 3:1, Arizona 5:2, and Vegas 5:2. They beat some very solid opponents. However, they only get two points for beating them, so Buffalo is still only 14th in the Eastern Conference standings.

In recent years, Columbus has been a clear outsider in the league, which does not even try to interfere in the struggle for cup places. This season is no exception, as Jackets began to show very poor results from the beginning of the regular season. They looked terrible in November when they had a 9-match losing streak. After that, they improved, clinging to points more often, but in the last seven games, they suffered five defeats, beating only St. Louis and Toronto - 5:2 and 6:5, respectively. Such a modest performance leaves the Blue and Red in only 15th position in the Eastern Conference standings.

Buffalo and Columbus are neighbors in the Eastern Conference standings, in 14th and 15th place, respectively. It would be naive for them to think about making the playoffs; therefore, they are solving their local problems. The favorites in a face-off are the Blades, the home team, and the Jackets, who play very modestly on the road, having picked up only two points out of a possible eight in their last four games. The Blues also have a better squad, and now they will try to show their class.

The confrontation between Buffalo and Columbus in recent years is characterized by solid goal-scoring activity. In the previous seven official head-to-head meetings, the rivals have combined for 71 goals (10.14 per game on average). Of course, every time the bookmaker's total over was reached during this stretch, the rivals scored at least three pucks each in six out of seven cases.