Columbus Blue Jackets (7-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Buffalo Sabres (7-5-3, in the Atlantic Division)

Buffalo, New York; Friday, 7 p.m. EST

LINE: Sabres -178, Blue Jackets +144; over/under is 6.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Columbus Blue Jackets visit the Buffalo Sabres after the Blue Jackets defeated the Dallas Stars 2-1 in a shootout.

Buffalo is 7-5-3 overall and 3-4-0 in home games. The Sabres have a -6 scoring differential, with 44 total goals scored and 50 given up.

Columbus has a 1-4-0 record in road games and a 7-7 record overall. The Blue Jackets have given up 42 goals while scoring 36 for a -6 scoring differential.

The matchup Friday is the second meeting between these teams this season. The Blue Jackets won 6-3 in the previous meeting. Matthew Knies led the Blue Jackets with two goals.

TOP PERFORMERS: Tage Thompson has scored 10 goals with eight assists for the Sabres. Zachary Benson has two goals and 11 assists over the last 10 games.

Kent Johnson has seven goals and seven assists for the Blue Jackets. Denton Mateychuk has scored four goals with one assist over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Sabres: 5-2-3, averaging 3.3 goals, six assists, 4.4 penalties and 10.2 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.

Blue Jackets: 5-5-0, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.5 assists, 3.2 penalties and eight penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.

INJURIES: Sabres: Matt Grzelcyk: out (lower-body), Konsta Helenius: out (upper-body), Justin Danforth: out (upper-body), Alex Lyon: out (upper-body), Jack Rathbone: out (undisclosed).

Blue Jackets: Isac Lundestrom: out (achilles).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.