bayesRatings

Sabres at Blue Jackets

NHL · Saturday, Jan 3 · 2:00 PM CT · Nationwide Arena · Final BUF 1 – CBJ 5

Final Box Score

from the game summary
Team123T
BUF1001
CBJ3115
Team box
BUF·CBJ
33
shots
35
0 of 5
power play
0 of 1
52.5
faceoff %
47.5
15
hits
23
15
blocked shots
13
6
penalty minutes
14
Top performers
Goalies
GoalieTeamSASVSV%
Ukko-Pekka LuukkonenBUF3430.882
Jet GreavesCBJ3332.970

For context, not in our forecast.

Game Flow

score margin
CBJ +4
BUF +4
P1P2P3
largest lead: CBJ 4 · BUF 0lead changes: 0

For context, not in our forecast.

Final · our forecast was BUF 48%, CBJ 52% · Updated Jan 3

Expected margin
Even
Expected score
CBJ 3.6 – 3.4 BUF
Expected total
6.9
SabresThe matchupBlue Jackets
+109Our fair odds−109
3.4Expected goals3.6
−0.02Power rating−0.10
3.2Goals / game3.0
3.1Allowed / game3.4
28.6Shots / game30.2
44.5Faceoff %50.7
19.1Hits / game18.9
21−18Season record17−22
10−0Last 104−6

Prediction markets

Kalshi · Polymarket US · ProphetX · Novig
BUF chance · CBJ chance
Our model fair47.8%52.2%
Kalshino two-sided price
Polymarket USno two-sided price
ProphetXno two-sided price
Novigno two-sided price
Full price table
TeamOur modelfairKalshi Polymarket US ProphetX Novig 
Moneyline
BUFBuffalo Sabres+10948%————
CBJColumbus Blue Jackets−10952%————
Spreadabout even
BUFBuffalo Sabres+0.2our margin————
CBJColumbus Blue Jackets−0.2our margin————
Totalwe expect 6.9
Over6.9our total————
Under6.9our total————

These are each venue’s last prices before the start (Kalshi’s moneyline: its pre-game close). Odds are the price to buy that side now, taker fee included; the small percent is the implied chance of that same price. Highlighted is the best price in the row among venues on the same line. — means not listed (hover or tap for why). A market price is not the true chance of winning.

Margin range

Even game expected
Buffalo Sabres by 6 goals: <1%Buffalo Sabres by 5 goals: 2%Buffalo Sabres by 4 goals: 5%Buffalo Sabres by 3 goals: 10%Buffalo Sabres by 2 goals: 9%Buffalo Sabres by 1 goal: 21%Columbus Blue Jackets by 1 goal: 19%Columbus Blue Jackets by 2 goals: 10%Columbus Blue Jackets by 3 goals: 12%Columbus Blue Jackets by 4 goals: 7%Columbus Blue Jackets by 5 goals: 3%Columbus Blue Jackets by 6 goals: 1%
← BUF wins byCBJ wins by →
Columbus Blue Jackets wins by 2 or more33%
Columbus Blue Jackets wins by 3 or more23%
Buffalo Sabres wins by 2 or more27%
Decided by one goal40%

Centered on the expected margin above; shape from each team's expected goals, with ties after regulation settled as one-goal games, matched to 7,070 past NHL games.

Total range

6.9 expected
1 goals: 1%2 goals: 1%3 goals: 7%4 goals: 6%5 goals: 17%6 goals: 11%7 goals: 20%8 goals: 9%9 goals: 13%10 goals: 5%11 goals: 5%12 goals: 2%13 goals: 2%14 goals: <1%15 goals: <1%
Total goals, both teams
Total over 5.567%
Total over 6.556%
Total over 7.536%
Total from 6 to 730%

Centered on the expected total above; shape from each team's expected goals, with ties after regulation settled as one-goal games, matched to 7,070 past NHL games.

Starting Goalies

from the box score
BUFUkko-Pekka Luukkonen G · last 5 starts: .911 save %, 2.37 GAAstarted
CBJJet Greaves G · last 5 starts: .927 save %, 2.02 GAAstarted

Starting goalies are part of our forecast.

Rest and Schedule

before this game
BUF·CBJ
Dec 31, 2025 at DAL
last game
Dec 31, 2025 vs NJ
2 days
days of rest
2 days
no
back-to-back
no
3
games in last 7 days
3
3rd straight road game
home / road
2nd straight home game

For context, not in our forecast.

Team Comparison

2025–26 season · box-score averages from 39+ games
BUF·CBJ
−0.02
rating (0 = average)
−0.10
3.2
goals / game
3.0
3.1
goals allowed / game
3.4
21−18
season record
17−22
12−7
home record
8−10
9−11
away record
9−12
W10
streak
L1
10−0
last 10
4−6
28.6
shots / game
30.2
44.5
faceoff %
50.7
19.1
hits / game
18.9
15.0
blocked shots / game
14.2
5.2
takeaways / game
5.0
15.6
giveaways / game
16.4

Rating Trend

BUF · CBJ · 78 days
Buffalo SabresColumbus Blue Jackets
Rating (0 = average team)

Head to Head

last 10 meetings · CBJ 5−5
Oct 28, 2025at BUFCBJ 4 − 3 OT
Apr 10, 2025at CBJCBJ 3 − 2
Feb 4, 2025at BUFBUF 3 − 2
Oct 17, 2024at CBJCBJ 6 − 4
Feb 23, 2024at CBJBUF 2 − 1
Dec 30, 2023at BUFBUF 3 − 2 OT
Dec 19, 2023at BUFCBJ 9 − 4
Apr 14, 2023at CBJBUF 5 − 2
Feb 28, 2023at BUFCBJ 5 − 3
Dec 7, 2022at CBJBUF 9 − 4

BUF · Last 10

10−0 · streak W10
Dec 31, 2025at DAL4 − 1W
Dec 29, 2025at STL4 − 2W
Dec 27, 2025vs BOS4 − 1W
Dec 23, 2025at OTT3 − 2W
Dec 21, 2025at NJ3 − 1W
Dec 20, 2025vs NYI3 − 2W
Dec 18, 2025vs PHI5 − 3W
Dec 14, 2025at SEA3 − 1W
Dec 11, 2025at VAN3 − 2W
Dec 9, 2025at EDM4 − 3W

CBJ · Last 10

4−6 · streak L1
Dec 31, 2025vs NJ2 − 3L
Dec 29, 2025at OTT4 − 1W
Dec 28, 2025vs NYI4 − 2W
Dec 22, 2025at LA3 − 1W
Dec 20, 2025at ANA3 − 4L
Dec 18, 2025vs MIN2 − 5L
Dec 16, 2025vs ANA4 − 3W
Dec 13, 2025vs VGK2 − 3L
Dec 11, 2025vs OTT3 − 6L
Dec 9, 2025at CAR1 − 4L