Technically not out of the playoffs, could the Jackets get two wins in a row at home?
First Period
The past month or two Buffalo has rounded more or less into the form we expected going into the year and we saw that early on. Buffalo wants to move the puck quickly and create rush chances and while the Jackets looked a little flat footed for much of the game Columbus was able to trade chances in the first. The first goal of the contest was scored twelve minutes in when Peterka ripped a beautiful shot by Jet’s ear and under the bar.
BUF Goal 0-1 Peterka (McLeod, Dahlin) 11:54
Not too long after the Peterka goal, Rasmus Dahlin undressed Monahan to create a scoring chance before a loose puck would eventually find him in the left circle where he struck for Buffalo’s second of the night.
BUF Goal 0-2 Dahlin (Benson, Kulich) 14:39
Buffalo started to take territorial control of this one following the second goal until just before the period ended. KJ flipped a puck out of the neutral zone to a cheating JVR for a breakaway with 10 seconds left in the period. JVR deked out the Buffalo goalie and slid the puck through five-hole to get Columbus on the board.
CBJ Goal 1-2 JVR (KJ, Werenski) 19:51
Nice way to end the period and another data point against scratching JVR.
Second Period
Columbus started the second period strong with something like 10 of the first 13 shot attempts but no goals and after the halfway point of the period they did not register a shot on goal until the third period.
The second period was all about Jet Greaves settling in and looking like a bonafide NHL starter. The Sabres put up 18 shots on goal in the middle frame to the tune of 1.7 xG but no actual goals. Jake Christiansen also left early in this period with an upper body injury and did not return.
No goals in this period but Buffalo deserved better.
Third Period
CBJ unable to get a shot on goal still until 4 minutes in when ZAR recovered the puck in the offensive zone on an attempted Buffalo breakout. He quickly turned towards the net and shot the puck on goal, Reimer couldn’t see it through a Sabre screen and the game was tied.
CBJ Goal 2-2 ZAR (Unassisted) 4:00
Jackets continued to build momentum after the goal and Werenski drew the first penalty of the game when he carried the puck into the slot. Great movement from the first unit early on but a few good saves from Reimer. Halfway through Monahan saved a clearing attempt at the line and fed Marchenko in the slot. Marchy got a shot on net and Jenner knocked in the rebound on his second attempt to give Columbus the lead.
CBJ Goal PP 3-2 Jenner (Marchenko, Monahan) 06:42
Coming back from the next commercial break the broadcast showed Werenski heading to the locker rom with a bloody thumb resulting from an uncalled slash just before the PP goal was scored. This brought the home team down to 4 D.
A poor clearing attempt from Mateychuk went over the glass with just over 7 minutes remaining for Buffalo’s first man advantage of the game. Sensing the team down to 3 available d-men Werenski was shown coming down the tunnel during the PK. Really good kill from Columbus, Buffalo’s best chance was shot off a post near the end of the advantage. Werenski returned to the ice following the kill.
Empty net for the final two minutes of the contest but Buffalo was unable to find the equalizer as Jet stood tall (not literally).
Final Thoughts
With the win the Jackets stay alive in the playoff race but will be eliminated with any Montreal regulation win, which could happen as soon as tomorrow.
To my eye, most of the forwards were just ok in this one. Like most teams, Buffalo did a good job of ceding ground in the defensive zone but limiting any chances from in close. The Sabres are a good skating team and gave Columbus trouble in the neutral zone, but the Jackets were great at getting chances off the forecheck. Danforth and Jenner both had strong games and credit to KJ for the excellent flip to JVR. Voronkov and Sillinger both need to find their game again.
Not an amazing night for the D-corp as a whole but Mateychuk had a few great moments and Gudbranson was actually really solid in this one outside of the malaise that captured the whole team in the second.
Jet Greaves was the star of the game. Recalled this afternoon after playing yesterday for the monsters, he stopped 39 of 41 shots and per NST saved 2 goals above expected.
Up Next
Columbus welcomes the greatest goal scorer in hockey history at 12:30 PM on Saturday.