Buffalo Sabres vs Columbus Blue Jackets Picks and Predictions for Thursday October 1 2026
The Buffalo Sabres visit the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, October 1, 2026. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET with coverage on ESPN+. This is the regular-season opener for both clubs, so the most useful current evidence comes from roster context and September preparation rather than a meaningful regular-season sample. Columbus enters as a slight -115 moneyline favorite, with Buffalo at -105, while the total is set at 6 goals. Be sure to check out our free NHL picks for more NHL predictions throughout the season.
Buffalo Opens on the Road
Buffalo arrives with reason for optimism after a strong 2025-26 campaign and a productive September. The Sabres finished last season with 50 wins, and their preparation included a convincing 5-1 victory over Columbus on September 22.
That result showed Buffalo can create pressure against this matchup, although preseason outcomes have to be treated carefully. The Sabres won’t necessarily see the same deployment or intensity Thursday that they saw during exhibition play.
The primary challenge is playing an opener on the road against a Columbus club that also looked sharp late in September. Buffalo has enough offensive upside to make this essentially a coin-flip matchup, which is reflected by the near-pick’em moneyline.
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Columbus Gets Opening Night at Nationwide Arena
Columbus finished 2025-26 at 40-30-12 and enters the new season after winning three of its final four September tune-ups. The Blue Jackets beat Detroit 4-2, Pittsburgh 4-0 and Detroit 1-0 around that 5-1 loss to Buffalo.
That series of results suggests Columbus was already playing with some defensive structure. The Blue Jackets allowed only three combined goals in those three wins and now get the benefit of opening at home.
There are availability concerns on the Columbus side, including injuries affecting both the skater group and goaltending depth, but the Blue Jackets still have enough home-ice value to justify the narrow favorite price.
Buffalo Sabres vs Columbus Blue Jackets Picks and Prediction
Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets Moneyline (-115)
This is close to a true pick’em, so home ice becomes important. Columbus showed better consistency across its late-September games and produced three wins while allowing only three goals in those victories. Buffalo’s 5-1 exhibition win over Columbus deserves attention, but it isn’t enough by itself to override the home side at such a modest price. Take Columbus -115.
Pick: Under 6 (-110)
The total pick is Under 6. Columbus played several low-scoring September games, including wins of 4-0 and 1-0, and opening-night hockey often features more structure than a typical midseason game while teams settle into regular rotations. Buffalo has offensive potential, but a 3-2 or 3-1 type of result fits the matchup. The push protection at exactly six also helps.
Final Picks: Columbus Blue Jackets ML (-115) and Under 6 (-110)
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