Buffalo vs Columbus Prediction 23 September 2025
📣 How will the second exhibition game between the "Blue Jackets" and the "Sabres" unfold? In their first encounter, Buffalo's second team dominated Columbus's second squad with a 4-0 victory. The lineups for the upcoming match will once again be shuffled. Looking ahead, it's likely that Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin will suit up for the Sabres. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets will have to make do with the performances of Wood and Aston-Reese.
Head-to-Head
During last year's preseason, the "Blue Jackets" and the "Blades" faced off and traded high-scoring victories. On September 24, the New York team thrashed their opponents 6-1. In that match, the "Blades" fielded a more optimal lineup, with Tage Thompson and Owen Power seizing control by the middle of the second period. In the second encounter on September 29, it was the "Blades" who conceded six goals, having opted to play without their key players for a second consecutive match. Canadian forward Sean Monahan scored twice for the "Blue Jackets" in that game. On September 23, 2025, the "Blades," featuring Kulich and Quinn, routed the "Jackets," who had fielded their main goaltending duo of Greaves and Merzlikins.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Buffalo Sabres Team Overview
The "Blades" had a rough last season, finishing just three points ahead of Boston and Philadelphia in the East, but falling a significant 12 points short of the playoff zone. The offseason was marked by a notable departure, as forward JJ Peterka headed to Utah. In return, New York welcomed forward Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesselring. To bolster their lower lines, the Blades brought in Columbus forward Justin Danforth and young Rangers defenseman Zac Jones. In the upcoming match against the "Jackets," forwards Alex Tuch and Jordan Greenway, along with goaltender Luukkonen, remain sidelined. On Tuesday, the New York squad fired 35 shots on goal against the Jackets and played with more discipline.
Match Results: Buffalo Sabres
Columbus Blue Jackets Team Overview
The "Blue Jackets" had a chance to make the playoffs last season for the first time in a while, but Montreal edged them out, delaying their postseason appearance for at least another year. Over the summer, the Jackets bolstered their lineup with Charlie Coyle, Miles Wood, and Hudson Fasching, who are set to strengthen the team's lower lines. Ivan Fedotov was brought in from Philadelphia to support the goaltending duo of Merzlikins and Greaves. In their first preseason game, the Jackets defeated St. Louis 4-1 but then fell to the Sabres with a 0-4 loss. On Tuesday, the Jackets managed 22 shots on goal but played less disciplined and engaged in fewer physical battles than their opponents. On Wednesday, they will be without Marchenko, Voronkov, and Provorov in their lineup. Keep an eye on Luca Del Bel Belluz, who racked up 56 points for Cleveland in the AHL last season.
Match Results: Columbus Blue Jackets
🏒 Projected Lineups
Buffalo: Lyon - Samuelsson, Dahlin - Benson, Norris, Thompson
Columbus: Fedotov - Christiansen, Elick - Aston-Reese, Lundstrom, Wood
🥅 Goaltenders
In the upcoming match, we expect to see the goalie tandem of Lyon-Levi. In the previous game against the "Jackets," Levi played one period and kept a clean sheet. The more experienced Lyon, who played for Detroit last season, posted a goals-against average of 2.81 over 30 games.
After a one-day break, goaltender Ivan Fedotov is set to return as the last line of defense for the "Jackets." Ivan will need to prove to the coaching staff that he can challenge someone from the Merzlikins-Grieves duo. Last season, Fedotov played 26 games for the Flyers and recorded a goals-against average of 3.15.
Editorial Prediction
Considering that the Ohio team is likely to play without their key players, we recommend betting on Buffalo to win in regulation. On Wednesday, it's unlikely we'll see Egor Chinakhov, Dmitri Voronkov, or Kirill Marchenko on the ice, while the Sabres are expected to have top scorer Tage Thompson and offensive defenseman Dahlin in the lineup. Statistically, betting on the New York team is also a sound choice, as they have celebrated victory in four of their last five home games against the Blue Jackets.
Betting Tips: Buffalo Sabres - Columbus Blue Jackets
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