RecapThis page was the preview until puck drop. Preview as published ↓Thursday 1 October · Nationwide Arena · Meeting No. 52
FINAL
By period
123T
Buffalo1203
Columbus3126
Pre-game favouriteBUF 51.2%Lost
First starM. Knies2 G · 1 A
Game stats
26Shots23
2.7Expected goals2.4
0/4Power play2/3
21Hits25
8Blocks15
Full box score ↓
Recap · data desk

Knies scores the winner as Columbus beat Buffalo 6-3

Buffalo out-shot Columbus 26-23 in a game with 1 lead change. The pre-game price had BUF at 51.2%.

Pucks & Stats Data Desk 1 Oct

1st period: M. Samuelsson (BUF), C. Sillinger (CBJ), M. Knies (CBJ), A. Fantilli (CBJ). 2nd period: J. Quinn (BUF), M. Knies (CBJ), K. Helenius (BUF). 3rd period: S. Monahan (CBJ), M. Olivier (CBJ).

Matthew Knies led Columbus with 2 goals and 1 assist. Jet Greaves stopped 23 of 26 shots. On expected goals it was Columbus 2.4, Buffalo 2.7. The chances favoured the side that lost. On the power play Columbus went 2 for 3 and Buffalo 0 for 4.

Shots23-26Columbus first
Power play2/3Columbus
Lead changes1
DecidedRegulationWinner at 07:45

How it turned

1st period
07:21Mattias Samuelsson (goal 1)Assists: N. Ostlund, O. PowerEV1-0
12:51Cole Sillinger (goal 1)Assists: C. Coyle, D. MateychukEV1-1
17:58Matthew Knies (goal 1)Assists: C. Coyle, Z. WerenskiPP1-2
18:44Adam Fantilli (goal 1)Assists: Z. Werenski, M. KniesEV1-3
2nd period
01:25Jack Quinn (goal 1)Assists: Z. Benson, N. OstlundEV2-3
07:45Matthew Knies (goal 2)Assists: E. Andrae, K. JohnsonEV · GWG2-4
13:14Konsta Helenius (goal 1)Assists: R. McLeod, O. PowerEV3-4
3rd period
14:21Sean Monahan (goal 1)Assists: V. Nichushkin, D. VoronkovPP3-5
17:53Mathieu Olivier (goal 1)Assists: C. CoyleEV3-6

Where the goals came from

Buffalo attacking leftColumbus attacking right
GoalOn goalMissedBlocked

How the chances built

Buffalo 2.74 xGColumbus 2.43 xGDots are goals · hover for the shot
00.511.522.532nd3rd1st

Running total of expected goals for each team, regulation and overtime. A steep climb is a spell of good chances; a goal dot above the other line came against the run of play.

The upset

Market, pre-game51.2% BUFMissed
Last season's table57.3% BUFMissed
Total goals9Over 6.0
How each market settled ↓

What’s next

Buffalo host Dallas on Thursday 8 October. Columbus host Pittsburgh on Friday 9 October.


Full game data

Box score

Columbus

#SkaterGAPSOG+/-FO%TOI
89Matthew Knies21340—16:06
3Charlie Coyle0330+247.1%19:04
8Zach Werenski0223+2—28:46
19Adam Fantilli1012080.0%17:28
23Sean Monahan1011040.0%15:31
4Cole Sillinger1013+2100.0%15:21
24Mathieu Olivier1013+2—14:32
5Denton Mateychuk01120—27:28
43Valeri Nichushkin0110−1—15:45
36Emil Andrae0110+1—15:37
91Kent Johnson011100.0%14:53
10Dmitri Voronkov01100—10:44
7Carson Soucy0002+1—20:15
44Erik Gudbranson0000−1—17:44
58Danton Heinen0002−140.0%12:11
83Conor Garland00000—12:09
94Ryan Lomberg00000—9:21
2Jake Christiansen0000−1—7:05

Buffalo

#SkaterGAPSOG+/-FO%TOI
25Owen Power0220+2—25:25
86Noah Ostlund0223+154.6%16:42
22Jack Quinn1014−1—20:46
23Mattias Samuelsson1011−2—18:21
94Konsta Helenius1012+20.0%15:09
6Zach Benson0111−1—18:34
71Ryan McLeod0110040.0%16:41
26Rasmus Dahlin0004−1—25:58
72Tage Thompson0004042.9%19:46
91Josh Doan0003050.0%19:06
9Josh Norris0001+171.4%16:19
46Louis Crevier00010—16:14
19Peyton Krebs000000.0%14:58
24Matt Grzelcyk0000−1—14:27
73Zach Metsa0000−1—12:54
20Jiri Kulich0001−220.0%8:45
29Beck Malenstyn0001−2—8:11
10Sam Carrick0000−240.0%7:43

Markets

How each market settled

Market · closing priceMarketKalshiKalshiPolymarketPolyProphetXProphetXSettled
Columbus to winMoneyline49¢49¢48¢100¢
Buffalo to winMoneyline52¢52¢52¢0¢

Closing price = each venue’s midpoint at the last snapshot before puck drop. Settlement follows each venue’s rules; shown for information only. "Best" is the cheapest price to buy Yes after venue fees. Prices are snapshots taken every 15 minutes (season futures hourly), not live. Prediction markets carry risk of loss and are not available in every jurisdiction. 18+/21+ where applicable.


Before the game · as published 1 Oct, 6:42 PM ET
Head-to-headMeeting number 52
Head-to-head

Meeting number 52

Across 51 completed games, Columbus lead the head-to-head 29-18-4.

All-time record29-18-4Columbus's record in the series
Meetings played51This is number 52
2025-26 seriesCBJ 2-1-0
Last 53-2Columbus

Last 5 meetings

DateResultShotsPower playWinner
9 Apr 2026CBJ 0 – BUF 537–24CBJ 0/4 · BUF 0/2BUF
3 Jan 2026BUF 1 – CBJ 533–35BUF 0/5 · CBJ 0/1CBJ
28 Oct 2025CBJ 4 – BUF 3 OT39–38CBJ 1/1 · BUF 0/2CBJ
10 Apr 2025BUF 2 – CBJ 341–30BUF 0/1 · CBJ 1/1CBJ
4 Feb 2025CBJ 2 – BUF 329–21CBJ 0/1 · BUF 0/1BUF
Special teamsPower play and penalty kill, season and series
Special teams

Power play and penalty kill, season and series

This season's rates first, then 2025-26 and the last meetings between the two. Power-play chances are counted from the penalty log with coincidental minors cancelled.

Buffalo

Power play · 2025-2619.5%
Power play · last 5 meetings0.0%
Penalty kill · 2025-2681.9%
Drawn · 2025-26246 (3.00/gm)
Drawn · last meetings11 (2.20/gm)
Shorthanded · 2025-26232 (2.83/gm)
PP goals · last meetings0

Columbus

Power play · 2025-2618.9%
Power play · last 5 meetings25.0%
Penalty kill · 2025-2676.0%
Drawn · 2025-26201 (2.45/gm)
Drawn · last meetings8 (1.60/gm)
Shorthanded · 2025-26221 (2.70/gm)
PP goals · last meetings2
Goaltending and injuriesWho has stopped this matchup
Goaltending

Who has stopped this matchup

Save percentage in the last meetings by goalie. Starters are confirmed on game day.

Buffalo crease

vs CBJAppsSAGASV%
Colten Ellis13701.000
Alex Lyon1394.897
J. Reimer2595.915

Columbus crease

vs BUFAppsSAGASV%
Jet Greaves413510.926
E. Merzlikins1213.857
Team news

6 on the injury lists

Buffalo · injuries

Alex LyonUpper BodyDay-to-dayReturn1 Oct
Conor TimminsLower BodyIRReturn17 Oct
Jack RathboneUndisclosedIRReturn3 Oct
Jason ZuckerAbdomenIRReturn15 Oct
Olen ZellwegerConcussionIRReturn3 Oct
Topias LeinonenLower BodyIRReturn10 Oct

Columbus · injuries

No players listed.

Latest moves

14 Sep · BUF

Signed C Noah Östlund to an eight-year contract.

17 Aug · BUF

Acquired future considerations from Carolina Hurricanes for F Stiven Sardaryan.

13 Jul · BUF

Signed F Peyton Krebs to a four-year contract .Acquired F Zac Funk Washington for F Tyler Kopff.

27 Sep · CBJ

Assigned G Pheonix Copley to Cleveland (AHL).

25 Sep · CBJ

Loaned G Nolan Lalonde, Fs Oiva Keskinen and Luke Tuch, and Ds Charlie Elick and Guillaume Richard to Cleveland (AHL). Designated Fs Mikael Pyyhtiä and Isac Lundestrom and G Elvis Merzlikins as injured non-roster. Waived for the purpose of assignment to Cleveland Ds Corson Ceulemans and Colton White. Placed D Dante Fabbro on injured reserve.

24 Sep · CBJ

Signed F Adam Fantilli to a six-year contract extension.

Shots, skaters, totals and marketsColumbus out-attempted Buffalo 345 to 325
Where the shots come from · last 5 meetings

Columbus out-attempted Buffalo 345 to 325

Every attempt from the last meetings, both teams shooting right.

Buffalo Sabres

325 att · 157 on goal · 14 G · 8.9%
Crease16 att · 2 G
Slot112 att · 8 G
Wing138 att · 3 G
Point53 att · 0 G
Neutral zone6 att · 1 G

Columbus Blue Jackets

345 att · 170 on goal · 14 G · 8.2%
Crease27 att · 3 G
Slot135 att · 7 G
Wing117 att · 2 G
Point51 att · 2 G
Neutral zone15 att · 0 G
GoalOn goalMissedBlocked
Skaters

Alex Tuch has 5 points in the last 5 meetings

Left, production across the last meetings. Right, each club's scoring leaders this season, with 2025-26 one tap away.

In the last meetings

PlayerGPGAPSOG
Alex Tuch523516
Josh Doan340410
J. Zucker40339
D. Severson30336
M. Wood22024

Season leaders

PlayerGPGPP/GP
Tage Thompson8140811.00
Rasmus Dahlin7719740.96
Alex Tuch7933660.84
Ryan McLeod8114540.67
Josh Doan8225520.63
Zach Werenski7522811.08
Adam Fantilli8224590.72
Charlie Coyle8220580.71
Boone Jenner6713380.57
Totals

A total in line with recent meetings

The board sits at 6.0. The last 5 meetings averaged 5.6 goals and went over 6.0 1 time.

line 6.0
0123456789
Dot colour: the winner of that meeting · goals per game
Last 5 avg5.6Goals per game
Over 6.01 of 5
Books at the line4Posting 6.0
Lowest5 goals
Prediction markets

Two markets, one coin flip

US and Canadian books are kept apart because they are separate markets with different books and prices.

Moneyline by market

SelectionBestAvgFair
United States · 7 books
Buffalo51¢52¢49.7%
Columbus52¢53¢50.3%
Canada · 1 books
Buffalo55¢55¢51.1%
Columbus52¢52¢48.9%

Snapshot 30 Sep, 4:22 PM ET

Lines on the board

Total 6.04 books
Puck line BUF +1.54 books
Puck line CBJ -1.54 books
Total 6.53 books
Puck line BUF -1.51 books
Puck line CBJ +1.51 books

Sportsbook prices are shown as implied cents (100 ÷ decimal odds) so they compare directly with prediction-market prices. Fair = margin removed. "Best" is the cheapest price to buy Yes after venue fees. Prices are snapshots, not live. Prediction markets carry risk of loss and are not available in every jurisdiction. 18+/21+ where applicable.

Updated after every final · Closing 1 Oct, 4:54 PM ET