Inside The Rink Game Day Preview
Buffalo Sabres (1-3-1, 3 Pts) at Columbus Blue Jackets (1-2-0, 2 Pts)
Date: Thursday, October 17
Nationwide Arena – Columbus, Ohio
Time: 7:00 pm EST
TV: ESPN+, MSG
Radio: WGR 550
DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Buffalo Sabres: -1.5 ML -130
Columbus Blue Jackets: +1.5 ML +110
O/U 6.5
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Buffalo Sabres Notes:
The Sabres blew an early lead against the Penguins and play the second game of a back-to-back after a 6-5 overtime loss to Pittsburgh. Buffalo lost the first two games of the season to New Jersey in Czechia.
Columbus Blue Jackets Notes:
The Blue Jackets are coming off an emotional home opener in which they honored the lives of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. With the Gaudreau family in attendance, the team raised a banner in Johnny and Matthew’s memory to the rafters pregame. The Jackets took the opening faceoff with the left-wing spot vacated in tribute to Johnny, then allowed 13 seconds to elapse off the game clock as a nod to his jersey number.
Buffalo Sabres Lineup:
Peterka-Thompson-Tuch
Benson-Cozens-Quinn
Greenway-McLeod-Zucker
Malenstyn-Krebs-Lafferty
Dahlin-Jokiharju
Byram-Power
Samuelsson-Clifton
Luukkonen
Levi
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Buffalo Hockey – Inside The Rink
Columbus Blue Jackets Lineup:
Chinakov-Monahan-Marchenko
Van Riemsdyk-Fantilli-K. Johnson
Pyyhtia-Sillinger-Danforth
Aston-Reese-Kuraly-Olivier
Werenski-Provorov
Christiansen-Severson
Harris-J. Johnson
Tarasov
Greaves
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Columbus Hockey – Inside The Rink
Players To Watch:
Buffalo Sabres:
Tuch enters Thursday on a four-game point streak after tallying two points in each of the Sabres’ last two contests, including a two-assist effort in Pittsburgh. Tuch leads the Sabres with six points through the first five games of the season.
Columbus Blue Jackets:
Yegor Chinakov has led the way in their absence, posting a team-high five points through Columbus’ first three games while playing on the top line alongside Sean Monahan and Kirill Marchenko. The trio has combined for 13 points, including three against Florida on Tuesday.
Injury Report:
Buffalo Sabres:
Niclas Aube-Kubel (Lower Body – IR)
Columbus Blue Jackets:
Danforth (Wrist – IR), Voronkov (Upper Body – IR), Jenner (Upper Body – IR), Brindley (Finger – IR), Gudbranson (Upper Body – IR), Merzlikins (Upper Body)
Next Game:
Buffalo Sabres: October 19 at Chicago at 8 pm EST.
Columbus Blue Jackets: October 19 vs Minnesota at 7 pm EST.
