The Columbus Blue Jackets hosted the Buffalo Sabres tonight in an effort to right the ship after the team dropped two in a row to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Los Angeles Kings. They would get their chance to do so on, uh … rivalry night. Sure, NBC. Whatever you say.
To help shake things up, Torts lined Nick Foligno up between Cam Atkinson and Artemi Panarin while Alexander Wennberg centered Boone Jenner and Oliver Bjorkstrand.
The team would be missing Lukas Sedlak, injured this week in practice. Zac Dalpe would take Sedlak’s place on the fourth line between Matt Calvert and Sonny Milano.
How did things go? Let’s find out.
First Period
In the first period, both teams missed chances by inches. Buffalo had several shots go just wide, including one by Sam Reinhart with just 5 seconds remaining. Sonny Milano and Cam Atkinson both hit posts. Cam Atkinson also had a goal called back as Nick Folino was called for goaltender interference.
The lone goal of the period was scored by the second power play unit as Oliver Bjorkstrand was able to bury a chance with assists from Seth Jones and Sonny Milano.
The Blue Jackets led 1-0 after 20 minutes.
Second Period
There wasn’t much that didn’t go the home team’s way during the second period. Sergei Bobrovsky made several outstanding saves. Seth Jones, Nick Foligno, and Matt Calvert were able to get on the score sheet.
The Blue Jackets led the Sabres 4-0 after 40 minutes.
Third Period
The first goal of the period was the Sabres breaking up the shutout bid on a shot from the Seth Griffith with 2:34 to go.
With 39 seconds to go, Josh Anderson put the icing on the game with a laser from the slot.
Final
Columbus Blue Jackets 5 Buffalo Sabres 1