Blue Jackets Visit Buffalo in Early-Season Divisional Tilt

The Blue Jackets head to KeyBank Center for a Metropolitan Division clash with the Sabres in what feels like a measuring-stick game for both clubs this early in the campaign. Columbus comes in looking to build momentum after a summer of roster tweaks, while Buffalo enters with playoff aspirations that have become an annual September tradition—whether they deliver is another story entirely.

This one hinges on special teams and goaltending, as divisional games in late September often do. The Sabres' power play has shown flashes of brilliance when their young guns click, but consistency remains elusive. Columbus counters with a structured defensive system that's kept them competitive in tight games, though their offense can go ice-cold for stretches.

Buffalo holds home ice, and their crowd will be buzzing early in the year, but the Jackets have quietly owned this matchup in recent seasons by clogging lanes and capitalizing on mistakes. Expect a low-event affair where special teams and goaltender performance decide the margin. The Sabres should have the edge in skill, but Columbus grinds teams down with patience and discipline. If Buffalo's netminder stands tall and they stay out of the box, they cash. Otherwise, Columbus steals two points on the road in classic spoiler fashion.