{"id":487440,"date":"2026-04-09T12:11:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T16:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=487440"},"modified":"2026-04-09T12:11:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T16:11:01","slug":"nhl-predictions-columbus-blue-jackets-vs-buffalo-sabres-april-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2026\/04\/09\/nhl-predictions-columbus-blue-jackets-vs-buffalo-sabres-april-9\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres, April 9"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, our writers here at\u00a0<\/span>Last Word On Hockey<\/em>\u00a0look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out. Our featured game of this edition is the Columbus Blue Jackets taking on the Buffalo Sabres. Be sure to\u00a0<\/span>check out more\u00a0NHL Predictions<\/a>, as our writers continue this series throughout the 2025-26 season.<\/span><\/p>\n

NHL Predictions<\/h2>\n

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres<\/h2>\n

Head-to-Head: Blue Jackets 2-0 Sabres<\/h3>\n

How to Watch<\/a>:\u00a0<\/span>US TV: MSG Buffalo; Fan Duel Sports Ohio; ESPN+. Canada TV: Sportnet; TVA Sports.<\/strong><\/amp-ad><\/amp-fx-flying-carpet><\/h3>\n

Time:<\/strong>\u00a07 p<\/span>.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)<\/p>\n

Our opening and featured game of NHL predictions is a critical game for both the Buffalo Sabres<\/a> and the Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a>. Jet Greaves<\/a> is the expected starter for the Blue Jackets but always check social media before locking in a daily fantasy starter. Columbus is 3-6-1 in its last 10 games. However, the Blue Jackets did collect a massive win over the Detroit Red Wings.<\/a> The Jackets are two points off<\/a> the second wild card, which is currently held by the Ottawa Senators. Kirill Marchenko<\/a> leads the team in goals (26), assists (39) and points (65).<\/span><\/p>\n

Alex Lyon<\/a> is the probable starter for the Sabres, who need the two points for a different reason. Buffalo leads the Atlantic Division by two points, but the Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> have a game in hand. The Sabres are 5-3-2 and have two consecutive wins entering this matchup. Tage Thompson<\/a> is the team’s leader in goals (38), assists (41), and points (79) for Buffalo.<\/p>\n

This should be a good game. However, Buffalo avoids the season sweep with a win.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Sabres win 4-2.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

(Credit Image: \u00a9 Dirk Shadd\/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire)<\/span><\/p>\n

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Montreal Canadiens<\/h2>\n

Head-to-Head: Lightning 2-1 Canadiens<\/h3>\n

How to Watch:\u00a0<\/span>US TV: The Spot; ESPN+. Canada TV: TSN2; RDS.<\/strong><\/amp-ad><\/amp-fx-flying-carpet><\/h3>\n

Time:<\/strong>\u00a07 p<\/span>.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)<\/p>\n

Our second game of NHL predictions is another key contest between the Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens<\/a>. Andrei Vasilevskiy<\/a> is the likely starter for the Lightning, who are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games. However, Tampa Bay has dropped its last two games in a row and are tied on points with Montreal with 102. Nikita Kucherov<\/a> has 127 points to lead the Lightning once again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jakub Dobes<\/a> is the confirmed starter for Montreal, which has won nine of its last 10 games entering this possible Stanley Cup Playoff preview. The Habs have only lost to the New Jersey Devils<\/a> in the last 10 to put themselves into the division title race. Nick Suzuki<\/a> is only four points off from reaching the 100 mark.<\/p>\n

This is another key game. However, Montreal keeps it rolling with another win.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Canadiens win 4-3.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

\u00a0(Credit Image: \u00a9 Alex Cave\/ZUMA Press Wire)<\/span><\/p>\n

Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars<\/h2>\n

Head-to-Head: Wild 2-1 Stars<\/h3>\n

How to Watch:\u00a0<\/span>US TV: Hulu; ESPN+. Canada TV: Sportsnet+.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Time:<\/strong> 9 p<\/span>.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)<\/p>\n

Our final game of NHL predictions is an actual preview of a postseason series between the Minnesota Wild<\/a> and the Dallas Stars.<\/a> Filip Gustavsson<\/a> is the projected starter for the Wild, who are 7-3 in their previous 10 games. This includes four consecutive wins entering this matchup. Ryan Hartman<\/a> has nine points in the team’s last 10 games.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jake Oettinger<\/a> is the expected starter for the Stars, who are 3-5-2 in the last 10 games. However, Dallas has won two of its last three games prior to this divisional game. Wyatt Johnston<\/a> leads the team in goals with 43 so far this season.<\/p>\n

The Wild have been playing better. However, Dallas gets back on track with a win.<\/p>\n

Predictions: Stars win 4-2.<\/em><\/p>\n

Best Bets<\/h3>\n

We close out NHL predictions with some prop bets of the night. Let’s go back to our featured game for our preferred props. The over\/under for the Blue Jackets and the Sabres is 6.5, and we like the under in this game.<\/p>\n

As for the individual props, take Charlie Coyle<\/a> to get a point for Columbus. On the Buffalo side of things, take Rasmus Dahlin<\/a> to get a power-play point.<\/p>\n

Main photo by: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images<\/em><\/p>\n

Please play responsibly, check for your local rules and age restrictions, some jurisdictions require ages 21+. Gambling\u00a0problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, our writers here at\u00a0Last Word On Hockey\u00a0look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out. Our featured game of this edition is the Columbus Blue Jackets taking on the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2352,"featured_media":438301,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4524,3,11,4547,4548],"tags":[6254,6083,6124,6012,6016,6391],"class_list":["post-487440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nhl-predictions","category-sabres","category-bluejackets","category-hockey","category-nhl","tag-buffalo-sabres-predictions","tag-columbus-blue-jackets-predictions","tag-dallas-stars-predictions","tag-minnesota-wild-predictions","tag-montreal-canadiens-predictions","tag-tampa-bay-lightning-predictions"],"modified_by":"Dan Mount, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487440","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2352"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=487440"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487440\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":487454,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487440\/revisions\/487454"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/438301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=487440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=487440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=487440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}