Betting board / portfolios
Start with where each team has been able to get shots or scoring chances against this opponent. The players below have the current roles to use those openings; prices appear only when a fresh exact quote is available.
Portfolio A · BUF — defenseman shot volume
Columbus Blue Jackets have allowed 8.49 shots on goal per game to opposing defensemen, while Buffalo Sabres generate 8.16 through their own defense. Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson and Owen Power have supplied 62% of their team's prior production here, with 38% coming from others. Those shot histories make their SOG markets the clearest individual options.
| Player | Position | Current line / pair | Current PP | Qualified games | SOG/G | 5v5 SOG/G | PP SOG/G | Attempts/G | 5v5 Attempts/G | PP Attempts/G | TOI min/G | Team shot share | SOG role | Current market line / price |
|---|
| Rasmus Dahlin | LD | Pair 1 | PP1 | 47 | 2.53 | 1.81 | 0.60 | 5.89 | 4.04 | 1.53 | 24.15 | 28.6% | Primary | Over 2.5 (-135) · draftkings · 2026-10-01T22:52:53.165275+00:00 · rotowire |
| Mattias Samuelsson | RD | Pair 1 | — | 48 | 1.48 | 1.35 | — | 3.31 | 3.06 | — | 22.59 | 17.1% | Primary | Over 1.5 (+105) · thescore · 2026-10-01T22:52:53.165275+00:00 · rotowire |
| Owen Power | LD | Pair 2 | PP2 | 50 | 1.38 | 1.22 | 0.14 | 3.20 | 2.70 | 0.28 | 21.32 | 16.6% | Primary | Over 1.5 (-109) · betrivers · 2026-10-01T22:52:53.165275+00:00 · rotowire |
Portfolio B · CBJ — defenseman shot volume
Buffalo Sabres have allowed 8.24 shots on goal per game to opposing defensemen, while Columbus Blue Jackets generate 9.55 through their own defense. Zach Werenski and Denton Mateychuk have supplied 48% of their team's prior production here, with 52% coming from others. That puts their SOG markets at the front of this shot-volume read.
| Player | Position | Current line / pair | Current PP | Qualified games | SOG/G | 5v5 SOG/G | PP SOG/G | Attempts/G | 5v5 Attempts/G | PP Attempts/G | TOI min/G | Team shot share | SOG role | Current market line / price |
|---|
| Zach Werenski | LD | Pair 1 | PP1 | 43 | 3.72 | 2.65 | 0.60 | 8.19 | 6.21 | 1.19 | 26.89 | 35.6% | Primary | Over 3.5 (-106) · betrivers · 2026-10-01T22:52:53.165275+00:00 · rotowire |
| Denton Mateychuk | RD | Pair 1 | PP2 | 45 | 1.20 | 1.11 | 0.07 | 3.00 | 2.67 | 0.24 | 20.04 | 12.0% | Primary | Over 1.5 (+100) · thescore · 2026-10-01T22:52:53.165275+00:00 · rotowire |
Portfolio C · BUF — PP1 assist production
Columbus Blue Jackets have allowed 5.34 assists per game, while Buffalo Sabres have produced 5.63. Those are full-game historical rates. Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Josh Doan and Zach Benson have supplied 33% of their team's prior production here, with 67% coming from others. Those credited PP assists make their assist markets the relevant bets to examine.
| Player | Current role | Market | Current line / price |
|---|
| Tage Thompson | Line 1 / PP1 | Assist | Over 0.5 (+115) · draftkings · 2026-10-01T22:52:53.165275+00:00 · rotowire |
| Rasmus Dahlin | Pair 1 / PP1 | Assist | Over 0.5 (-113) · caesars · 2026-10-01T22:52:53.165275+00:00 · rotowire |
| Josh Doan | Line 1 / PP1 | Assist | Over 0.5 (+200) · draftkings · 2026-10-01T22:52:53.165275+00:00 · rotowire |
| Zach Benson | Line 2 / PP1 | Assist | Over 0.5 (+190) · caesars · 2026-10-01T22:52:53.165275+00:00 · rotowire |
Portfolio D · BUF — PP1 finishing
Columbus Blue Jackets have allowed 3.09 goals per game, while Buffalo Sabres have scored 3.27. Those are full-game historical rates. Josh Doan, Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin have supplied 31% of their team's prior production here, with 69% coming from others. Those PP1 scoring histories put their goal markets in view.
| Player | Current role | Market | Current line / price |
|---|
| Josh Doan | Line 1 / PP1 | Goal | Over 0.5 (+235) · fanduel · 2026-10-01T22:52:53.165275+00:00 · rotowire |
| Tage Thompson | Line 1 / PP1 | Goal | Over 0.5 (+165) · draftkings · 2026-10-01T22:52:53.165275+00:00 · rotowire |
| Rasmus Dahlin | Pair 1 / PP1 | Goal | Over 0.5 (+350) · hardrock · 2026-10-01T22:52:53.165275+00:00 · rotowire |
Game scouting read
Buffalo Sabres have a useful shot matchup through their defensemen. Columbus Blue Jackets have let that group put pucks on net, and Buffalo Sabres already use it in their normal attack. Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson and Owen Power have the current roles and prior shots to benefit. Their SOG markets are the first place to look.
Columbus Blue Jackets have a useful shot matchup through their defensemen. Buffalo Sabres have let that group put pucks on net, and Columbus Blue Jackets already use it in their normal attack. Zach Werenski and Denton Mateychuk have the current roles and prior shots to benefit. Their SOG markets are the first place to look.
Columbus Blue Jackets face fewer extra-man chances on the past rates. That affects how much the top units can contribute, without promising a penalty count tonight.
For scoring, Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Josh Doan and Zach Benson are the PP1 assist producers to watch for Buffalo Sabres; Josh Doan, Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin are the PP1 goal scorers to watch for Buffalo Sabres. Goals and assists come from the same team scoring chances, so those bets are related.
Where the attacks are
Buffalo Sabres — defenseman shot volume
Columbus Blue Jackets have allowed 8.49 shots on goal per game to opposing defensemen, while Buffalo Sabres generate 8.16 through their own defense. That fits the way they play: their usual shooters are the ones this opponent has allowed to fire. That makes the back end a natural place to look for shots.
Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson and Owen Power have taken a meaningful share of those shots, though teammates have plenty of them too. Their current lines or pairs give them even-strength ice; Rasmus Dahlin also skates on PP1. Rasmus Dahlin recorded 1.81 SOG and 4.04 attempts per qualified game at five-on-five; current PP1 membership adds a possible route, with 0.60 SOG and 1.53 attempts per game in prior power-play states. Attempts include shots that missed or were blocked; they are part of the same shot pool as SOG.
That makes their SOG markets the cleanest way to bet on the shots. They need to put pucks on net; they do not need to score.
Columbus Blue Jackets — defenseman shot volume
Buffalo Sabres have allowed 8.24 shots on goal per game to opposing defensemen, while Columbus Blue Jackets generate 9.55 through their own defense. Their normal attack already gives this group chances to put pucks on net. That makes the back end a natural place to look for shots.
Zach Werenski and Denton Mateychuk have taken a meaningful share of those shots, though teammates have plenty of them too. Their current lines or pairs give them even-strength ice; Zach Werenski also skates on PP1. Zach Werenski recorded 2.65 SOG and 6.21 attempts per qualified game at five-on-five; current PP1 membership adds a possible route, with 0.60 SOG and 1.19 attempts per game in prior power-play states. The teams’ past PP chance rates temper reliance on that route. Attempts include shots that missed or were blocked; they are part of the same shot pool as SOG.
That makes their SOG markets the cleanest way to bet on the shots. They need to put pucks on net; they do not need to score.
Buffalo Sabres — PP1 assist production
Columbus Blue Jackets have allowed 5.34 assists per game, while Buffalo Sabres have produced 5.63. Those are full-game historical rates. On the power play, Buffalo Sabres have produced 0.35 assists per chance, and Columbus Blue Jackets have allowed 0.46. A goal creates the chance for a credited assist; the current PP1 group has done much of that scoring work.
Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Josh Doan and Zach Benson have 28 prior current-team credited PP assists between them and are on today's PP1. Their current lines or pairs give them ice outside the power play too. Other players supplied 67% of the team's full-game historical assists.
That makes their assist markets the way to bet on their part in the scoring, without guessing who will make a particular pass.
Buffalo Sabres — PP1 finishing
Columbus Blue Jackets have allowed 3.09 goals per game, while Buffalo Sabres have scored 3.27. Those are full-game historical rates. On the power play, Buffalo Sabres have produced 0.18 goals per chance, and Columbus Blue Jackets have allowed 0.23. They have scored enough to make the current PP1 finishers worth examining, especially if the top unit gets its usual chances.
Josh Doan, Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin have 10 prior current-team PP goals between them and are on today's PP1. Their current lines or pairs give them ice outside the power play too. Other players supplied 69% of the team's full-game historical goals.
That puts their PP1 goal markets on the finishing list. Each bet needs that player to finish a chance.
Columbus Blue Jackets — wider forwards shot environment
Buffalo Sabres have allowed 20.78 SOG per game to forwards, while Columbus Blue Jackets generate 20.32 through the same player group. The team matchup looks useful, but those shots have been spread across too many players for one clean SOG bet.
Power-play units
Buffalo Sabres PP1
Buffalo Sabres have averaged 2.91 power plays per game, and Columbus Blue Jackets have conceded 2.81. Together those past rates sit at roughly 3 chances. That is close to average, so PP1 has to produce from about its usual number of chances.
When Buffalo Sabres have had the extra skater, they generated 1.41 SOG per chance; Columbus Blue Jackets allowed 1.58. Josh Doan and Tage Thompson have scored the most PP goals among today's PP1, while Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin have supplied the most credited PP assists. The listed unit is current, but its minutes tonight are not guaranteed.
PP2 (informational): Josh Norris, Noah Ostlund, Ryan McLeod, Konsta Helenius, Owen Power.
| Player | Current EV line / pair | PP goals | PP assists |
|---|
| Tage Thompson | Line 1 | 3 | 11 |
| Josh Doan | Line 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Zach Benson | Line 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Jack Quinn | Role unconfirmed | — | — |
| Rasmus Dahlin | Pair 1 | 2 | 8 |
Columbus Blue Jackets PP1
Columbus Blue Jackets have averaged 2.45 power plays per game, and Buffalo Sabres have conceded 2.79. Together those past rates sit at roughly 2–3 chances. That is below average; fewer extra-man chances would make PP-dependent bets harder to reach.
When Columbus Blue Jackets have had the extra skater, they generated 1.48 SOG per chance; Buffalo Sabres allowed 1.48. Adam Fantilli and Zach Werenski have scored the most PP goals among today's PP1, while Zach Werenski and Charlie Coyle have supplied the most credited PP assists. The listed unit is current, but its minutes tonight are not guaranteed.
PP2 (informational): Sean Monahan, Valeri Nichushkin, Conor Garland, Dmitri Voronkov, Denton Mateychuk.
| Player | Current EV line / pair | PP goals | PP assists |
|---|
| Adam Fantilli | Line 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Matthew Knies | Line 1 | — | — |
| Kent Johnson | Line 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Charlie Coyle | Line 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Zach Werenski | Pair 1 | 2 | 8 |
Goalies / what could change
Buffalo Sabres: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is listed as confirmed. The defense has faced shots, but this opponent has not generated matching shot volume consistently. A goalie-saves target still needs confirmed participation and its own qualified workload case.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Jet Greaves is listed as confirmed. Buffalo Sabres generated 29.2 goalie-faced SOG per game, while Columbus Blue Jackets allowed 28.9; that could create workload if the starter plays the full game. A goalie-saves target still needs confirmed participation and its own qualified workload case.
Refresh units, goalies and exact sportsbook quotes before puck drop. Shot areas describe release locations, not fixed tactical positions.
