by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Feb 28, 2023
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Where to watch: HULU, ESPN+
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Sabres -215, Blue Jackets +185
FanDuel: Sabres -215, Blue Jackets +176
BetMGM: Sabres -210, Blue Jackets +170
Caesars: Sabres -222, Blue Jackets +180
Season record
Blue Jackets: 19-35-6
Sabres: 31-23-4
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Blue Jackets - Sabres preview, prediction and analysis
The Columbus Blue Jackets will be playing the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, February 28 in Buffalo, New York.
The Columbus Blue Jackets lost against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, February 26 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota with a score of 3-2 in overtime. The Columbus Blue Jackets currently rank 8th in the Metropolitan Division.
Elvis Merzlikins made 41 saves for Columbus (19-35-6), which is 3-1-2 in its past six.
The Blue Jackets were playing the second of a back to back after defeating the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 on Saturday.
"We just ran out of gas," Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. "You could feel it in the third. They had some pressure, (and) we had a couple turnovers which didn't help.
"I thought the first half of the game we were real sharp. We needed more guys tonight to be on their game. We had a few guys who just weren't locked in and it cost us tonight. You're thrilled to build the lead because you need it, especially on the road, and you're on a back to back here, so we just ran out of gas and got a little bit sloppy, and it cost us."
Mathieu Olivier put Columbus ahead 1-0 at 16:20 of the first period. Eric Robinson intercepted an Alex Goligoski pass and sent the puck to Olivier, who beat Fleury down low.
Liam Foudy made it 2-0 at 3:04 when he tipped in Erik Gudbranson's centering pass.
Minnesota scored the next two goals tying the game and Kirill Kaprizov completed a natural hat trick with 20 seconds left in overtime to give the Minnesota Wild a 3-2 win.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have won four of their last 10 games.
The Buffalo Sabres won against the Washington Capitals on Sunday, February 26 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo with a score of 7-4. The Buffalo Sabres currently rank 4th in the Atlantic Division.
Dylan Cozens scored his first NHL hat trick and had an assist for the Buffalo Sabres. Tage Thompson scored his 40th goal of the season, Vinnie Hinostroza had a goal and an assist, and Jack Quinn and Casey Mittelstadt each had two assists for the Sabres (31-23-4), who have won five of six. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 26 saves.
Buffalo played without forward Alex Tuch, who is week to week with a lower-body injury, and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who is day to day with an undisclosed injury.
"I think everyone stepped up," Thompson said. "We knew that was a big game. Those were important points for us. We have a group that's really hungry in here to succeed and I think everyone in here takes that to heart. I think we are confident with the group that we have, and we knew that we can win this game."
Cozens gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead at 10:40 of the first after Mittelstadt found him streaking into the slot. Dylan Strome tied it 1-1 from the left hash marks at 14:45.
Thompson put the Sabres back in front 2-1 at 16:35 after intercepting Evgeny Kuznetsov's pass above the circles.
"It's a good feeling," Thompson said of scoring 40 goals. "I think you obviously set goals for yourself at the beginning of the season, and that is something that I wanted to see if I could get this year. It's kind of one of those things now, I guess, where you reach it and now you change your goal, and now it's a little further ahead and try to chase that one now."
T.J. Oshie scored 15 seconds later from below the left circle to tie it a 2-2 game at 16:50.
Jeff Skinner responded for the Sabres to make it 3-2 at 5:49 of the second when he poked in a rebound. Zemgus Girgensons then pushed it to 4-2 at 8:36 after he was left alone in front.
Hinostroza, who was recalled from Rochester of the American Hockey League prior to the game, scored from the right circle to extend the lead to 5-2 at 10:07. Cozens made it 6-2 at 12:49, taking a cross-ice pass from Quinn and shooting blocker side on Lindgren.
"That was an unbelievable pass by [Quinn]," Cozens said. "I called for it when I was in the D-zone just to let him know I was coming up that wing. He just [drew] everyone to him and then kicked it to me, so it was a great play by him."
Alex Ovechkin scored on a rebound in front to cut it to 6-3 at 15:49, and Sonny Milano made it 6-4 with a breakaway on a power play at 18:40.
Cozens completed the hat trick at 11:52 of the third for the 7-4 final.
"It looked like he was in sync and feeling good about his game," Sabres coach Don Granato said. "Obviously, incredible pace. … He definitely had his feet moving today. You could tell he felt good and speed, the impact he had, a lot of it was speed. He could've had one or two more as well."
The Buffalo Sabres have won five of their last 10 games.
Prediction
All hail Buffalo. This is the Sabres' time. All enjoy it. Sabres 5, Blue Jackets 3
The Columbus Blue Jackets lost against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, February 26 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota with a score of 3-2 in overtime. The Columbus Blue Jackets currently rank 8th in the Metropolitan Division.
Elvis Merzlikins made 41 saves for Columbus (19-35-6), which is 3-1-2 in its past six.
The Blue Jackets were playing the second of a back to back after defeating the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 on Saturday.
"We just ran out of gas," Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. "You could feel it in the third. They had some pressure, (and) we had a couple turnovers which didn't help.
"I thought the first half of the game we were real sharp. We needed more guys tonight to be on their game. We had a few guys who just weren't locked in and it cost us tonight. You're thrilled to build the lead because you need it, especially on the road, and you're on a back to back here, so we just ran out of gas and got a little bit sloppy, and it cost us."
Mathieu Olivier put Columbus ahead 1-0 at 16:20 of the first period. Eric Robinson intercepted an Alex Goligoski pass and sent the puck to Olivier, who beat Fleury down low.
Liam Foudy made it 2-0 at 3:04 when he tipped in Erik Gudbranson's centering pass.
Minnesota scored the next two goals tying the game and Kirill Kaprizov completed a natural hat trick with 20 seconds left in overtime to give the Minnesota Wild a 3-2 win.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have won four of their last 10 games.
The Buffalo Sabres won against the Washington Capitals on Sunday, February 26 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo with a score of 7-4. The Buffalo Sabres currently rank 4th in the Atlantic Division.
Dylan Cozens scored his first NHL hat trick and had an assist for the Buffalo Sabres. Tage Thompson scored his 40th goal of the season, Vinnie Hinostroza had a goal and an assist, and Jack Quinn and Casey Mittelstadt each had two assists for the Sabres (31-23-4), who have won five of six. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 26 saves.
Buffalo played without forward Alex Tuch, who is week to week with a lower-body injury, and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who is day to day with an undisclosed injury.
"I think everyone stepped up," Thompson said. "We knew that was a big game. Those were important points for us. We have a group that's really hungry in here to succeed and I think everyone in here takes that to heart. I think we are confident with the group that we have, and we knew that we can win this game."
Cozens gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead at 10:40 of the first after Mittelstadt found him streaking into the slot. Dylan Strome tied it 1-1 from the left hash marks at 14:45.
Thompson put the Sabres back in front 2-1 at 16:35 after intercepting Evgeny Kuznetsov's pass above the circles.
"It's a good feeling," Thompson said of scoring 40 goals. "I think you obviously set goals for yourself at the beginning of the season, and that is something that I wanted to see if I could get this year. It's kind of one of those things now, I guess, where you reach it and now you change your goal, and now it's a little further ahead and try to chase that one now."
T.J. Oshie scored 15 seconds later from below the left circle to tie it a 2-2 game at 16:50.
Jeff Skinner responded for the Sabres to make it 3-2 at 5:49 of the second when he poked in a rebound. Zemgus Girgensons then pushed it to 4-2 at 8:36 after he was left alone in front.
Hinostroza, who was recalled from Rochester of the American Hockey League prior to the game, scored from the right circle to extend the lead to 5-2 at 10:07. Cozens made it 6-2 at 12:49, taking a cross-ice pass from Quinn and shooting blocker side on Lindgren.
"That was an unbelievable pass by [Quinn]," Cozens said. "I called for it when I was in the D-zone just to let him know I was coming up that wing. He just [drew] everyone to him and then kicked it to me, so it was a great play by him."
Alex Ovechkin scored on a rebound in front to cut it to 6-3 at 15:49, and Sonny Milano made it 6-4 with a breakaway on a power play at 18:40.
Cozens completed the hat trick at 11:52 of the third for the 7-4 final.
"It looked like he was in sync and feeling good about his game," Sabres coach Don Granato said. "Obviously, incredible pace. … He definitely had his feet moving today. You could tell he felt good and speed, the impact he had, a lot of it was speed. He could've had one or two more as well."
The Buffalo Sabres have won five of their last 10 games.
Prediction
All hail Buffalo. This is the Sabres' time. All enjoy it. Sabres 5, Blue Jackets 3
Betting trends
Blue Jackets are 6-22 after losing 2 of 3 this season.
Blue Jackets are 4-12 revenging a home loss this season.
Sabres are 13-7 after a win by 2 goals or more this season.
Projected lines
Blue Jackets:
Johnny Gaudreau -- Boone Jenner -- Kirill Marchenko
Kent Johnson -- Jack Roslovic -- Patrik Laine
Eric Robinson -- Sean Kuraly -- Mathieu Olivier
Liam Foudy -- Cole Sillinger -- Emil Bemstrom
Tim Berni -- Erik Gudbranson
Nick Blankenburg -- Andrew Peeke
Gavin Bayreuther -- Adam Boqvist
Joonas Korpisalo
Johnny Gaudreau -- Boone Jenner -- Kirill Marchenko
Kent Johnson -- Jack Roslovic -- Patrik Laine
Eric Robinson -- Sean Kuraly -- Mathieu Olivier
Liam Foudy -- Cole Sillinger -- Emil Bemstrom
Tim Berni -- Erik Gudbranson
Nick Blankenburg -- Andrew Peeke
Gavin Bayreuther -- Adam Boqvist
Joonas Korpisalo
Sabres:
Jeff Skinner -- Tage Thompson -- Victor Olofsson
JJ Peterka -- Dylan Cozens -- Vinnie Hinostroza
Casey Mittelstadt -- Peyton Krebs -- Jack Quinn
Zemgus Girgensons -- Tyson Jost -- Kyle Okposo
Mattias Samuelsson -- Rasmus Dahlin
Owen Power -- Henri Jokiharju
Kale Clague -- Ilya Lyubushkin
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Jeff Skinner -- Tage Thompson -- Victor Olofsson
JJ Peterka -- Dylan Cozens -- Vinnie Hinostroza
Casey Mittelstadt -- Peyton Krebs -- Jack Quinn
Zemgus Girgensons -- Tyson Jost -- Kyle Okposo
Mattias Samuelsson -- Rasmus Dahlin
Owen Power -- Henri Jokiharju
Kale Clague -- Ilya Lyubushkin
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
