It was an odd evening in Buffalo as the Sabres downed the Columbus Blue Jackets by a score of 3-1. This was the Sabres first win since December 29.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE JACKETS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| SABRES | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
To start the game, the Blue Jackets sleepwalked through most of the period. Despite getting a couple of chances, the team was outshot and outworked. Benoit Pouliot would score the opening goal after the Blue Jackets failed to exit the zone. His tally would be the first goal of the evening for the Sabres.
While the first period was more about feeling one another out on the ice, the second period the Blue Jackets pushed the pace and started to mount their comeback. The Blue Jackets didn't score a goal during the period but did outshoot the Sabres during the period 15-7.
As the Blue Jackets entered the third period, it felt similar to their previous game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Momentum was starting to mount, and a Blue Jackets comeback felt inevitable.
A goal from Kyle Okposo on an odd bounce would put the Sabres ahead 2-0 and would end up being the game-winning goal. Artemi Panarin would try to mount a one-man comeback by scoring an insane backhand goal to get the deficit back to one goal, but it wouldn't be enough. The Sabres would score an empty-netter in the closing seconds to finish the game with a 3-1 win over the Blue Jackets.
Injury Update
Both Ryan Murray and Brandon Dubinsky skated with the team and are getting closer and closer to returning to the lineup
Next Up
The Blue Jackets play tomorrow at Nationwide Arena on January 12 at 7:00 PM against the Vancouver Canucks before their collectively-bargained bye week.
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