NHL

Buffalo Sabres at Columbus Blue Jackets

· National Hockey League
Final
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Tarasov stops 20 shots and Blue Jackets use balanced scoring in a 6-4 victory over the Sabres

Buffalo Sabres vs. Columbus Blue Jackets: Game Highlights

Yegor Chinakhov, Adam Fantilli, Zachary Aston-Reese and Damon Severson also scored for Columbus (2-2-0), and Zach Werenski added two assists.

Ryan McLeod, Owen Power and JJ Peterka scored for Buffalo, and Jiri Kulich added his first NHL goal. Devon Lev stopped 19 shots for the Sabres (1-5-1), who have lost two straight road games and five of their first six overall.

Takeaways Sabres: Buffalo did not have a shot on goal until 10:51 of the first period and wound up being outshot 25-24.

Blue Jackets: The team’s Russian connection prove fruitful as Chinakhov and Marchenko scored their second goals in four games this season. Chinakhov has a four-game point streak and leads the team with six points. Marchenko extended his assist streak to three games.

Key moment The teams scored three goals in the closing minutes of the second period. Kulich pulled Buffalo within a goal with his score at 17:29 to make it 3-2, before Mathieu Olivier scored 29 seconds later to make give Columbus its third two-goal lead of the game. Buffalo’s Owen Power cut into the lead with 25 seconds left in the period, before Aston-Reese extended it for Columbus 15 seconds into the final frame.

Key stat The Blue Jackets have again been bit by the injury bug that caused trouble last season. Kent Johnson left the game early in the second period holding his wrist after falling over James Van Riemsdyk, who had been tripped for a penalty. Veteran defenseman Erik Gudbranson was at the game in a shoulder splint, having been placed on injured reserve after Tuesday’s home opener loss to Florida. Goalie Elvis Merzlikins is out for the short term with an upper body injury.

Up Next Both teams play Saturday night, with the Sabres at Chicago, and the Blue Jackets hosting Minnesota.

Regular Season Series

CBJ lead series 1-0

Scoring Summary

Goal 1st Period 5:12 Yegor Chinakhov Goal (2) Wrist Shot, assists: Zach Werenski (1), Kent Johnson (3)
Goal 1st Period 19:28 Kirill Marchenko Goal (2) Snap Shot, assists: none
Goal 2nd Period 9:34 Ryan McLeod Goal (2) Wrist Shot, assists: Jason Zucker (4), Jordan Greenway (2)
Goal 2nd Period 12:18 Adam Fantilli Goal (2) Wrist Shot, assists: Zach Werenski (2), Ivan Provorov (1)
Goal 2nd Period 17:29 Jiri Kulich Goal (1) Tip-In, assists: Dylan Cozens (1), Henri Jokiharju (2)
Goal 2nd Period 17:58 Mathieu Olivier Goal (1) Wrist Shot, assists: Cole Sillinger (2), Jake Christiansen (2)
Goal 2nd Period 19:35 Owen Power Goal (2) Snap Shot, assists: none
Goal 3rd Period 0:15 Zachary Aston-Reese Goal (1) Tip-In, assists: Jake Christiansen (3), Mathieu Olivier (1)
Goal 3rd Period 8:10 Damon Severson Goal (1) Snap Shot, assists: Kirill Marchenko (4)
Goal 3rd Period 17:51 JJ Peterka Goal (3) Slap Shot, assists: Tage Thompson (1), Rasmus Dahlin (2)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/buf.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originBUF https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/cbj.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCBJ
8 Blocked Shots 17
18 Hits 16
6 Takeaways 7
24 Shots 25
0 Power Play Goals 1
2 Power Play Opportunities 3
0.0 Power Play Percentage 33.3
0 Short Handed Goals 0
0 Shootout Goals 0
28 Faceoffs Won 27
50.9 Faceoff Win Percent 49.1
13 Giveaways 14
3 Total Penalties 2
6 Penalty Minutes 4

Game Information

Nationwide Arena

Location: Columbus, OH
Attendance: 16,126 | Capacity:

2024-25 Atlantic Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Toronto 12 6 26 2
Florida 12 7 25 1
Tampa Bay 10 6 22 2
Buffalo 10 9 21 1
Boston 9 9 21 3
Detroit 8 9 18 2
Ottawa 8 10 17 1
Montreal 7 10 16 2

2024-25 Metropolitan Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Carolina 14 5 28 0
New Jersey 13 7 28 2
Washington 13 5 27 1
NY Rangers 12 5 25 1
NY Islanders 7 8 19 5
Columbus 8 9 18 2
Philadelphia 8 10 18 2
Pittsburgh 7 11 18 4
Full Standings