Blackhawks vs. Sabres Prediction & Picks - Oct. 3

The Buffalo Sabres (0-1) take on the Chicago Blackhawks (0-2) at KeyBank Center on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Sabres were defeated by the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3 in their most recent game, while the Blackhawks are coming off a 6-0 loss to the Utah Mammoth.

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Before this matchup, here is who we expect to emerge victorious in Saturday's hockey game.

Blackhawks vs. Sabres Predictions for Saturday

Our computer projections model for this contest calls for a final score of Sabres 5, Blackhawks 3.

• Moneyline Pick: Sabres (-238)
• Total Pick: Over 6.5 (computer predicts 7.8 goals on average)
• Spread Pick: Sabres (-1.5)

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Sabres Splits and Trends

• The Sabres had a 50-23-9 record overall, with an 8-11-19 record in contests that went to overtime, last season.
• Buffalo was 12-3-10 (34 points) in its 25 games decided by one goal.
• In the 10 games last season the Sabres scored only one goal, they finished 0-8-2 (two points).
• Buffalo finished 6-11-1 in the 18 games last season when it scored exactly two goals (registering 13 points).
• The Sabres scored three or more goals 64 times, and went 51-5-8 in those games (to record 110 points).
• In the 29 games when Buffalo recorded a lone power-play goal, it went 18-6-5 to register 41 points.
• When it outshot its opponent, Buffalo was 25-14-3 (53 points).
• The Sabres were outshot by their opponent 52 times, and went 31-13-8 (70 points).

Blackhawks Splits and Trends

• The Blackhawks (29-39-14 overall) posted a record of 7-14-21 in games that required OT last season.
• In the 27 games Chicago played that were decided by one goal, it picked up 29 points.
• Last season the Blackhawks scored only one goal in 16 games, and they finished 0-15-1.
• When Chicago scored exactly two goals last season, they amassed 15 points (5-11-5 record).
• The Blackhawks picked up 56 points in their 40 games when they scored three or more goals.
• Last season Chicago scored a lone power-play goal in 30 games and registered 33 points, with a record of 14-11-5.
• When outshooting its opponent last season, Chicago was 12-10-4 (28 points).
• The Blackhawks were outshot by their opponents in 53 games last season, going 17-26-10 to record 44 points.

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Team Stats Comparison (2025-26)

Blackhawks vs. Sabres Game Time and TV Channel

• When: Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET
• TV Channel: ESPN+
• Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
• Where: KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York

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