| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
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1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
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CBJ GOALS: |
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A spectacular goal from Kent Johnson and a third period comeback effort wasn't enough for the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night, as they fell 3-2 to the Buffalo Sabres for their second straight loss.
Buffalo led 1-0 after the first before Johnson's highlight reel, backhanded goal tied the game. It was one of the only bright spots of the period for the Blue Jackets, who surrendered two more goals — both on deflections — and would go into the third period down 3-1.
"We made a couple of uncharacteristic plays for us as of late," said head coach Dean Evason. "Consequently, (we) gave up a couple goals."
Ivan Provorov would bring Columbus within one on a goal with 7:22 left in the third period, but the Blue Jackets' late bid to tie the game was rejected by the Sabres and goalie James Reimer, who made 28 saves for just his second win of the season.
With top-pairing defenseman Zach Werenski and Dante Fabbro out with injuries, the Blue Jackets relied heavily on Provorov, who was on the ice for 28:27.
That led all skaters on either team and was the defenseman's third-highest minute total of the season.
Provorov refused to blame Columbus being short-handed for the loss.
"It's part of the game," said Provorov. "Everybody's got to be able to pull the same weight and contribute to the team and I think for the most part that's what we've been doing all year ... today was the same."
Here's how the Blue Jackets ended their four-game road trip:
1st Period:
(0:03 — Olivier vs. Gilbert): After a lack of response following a late, high hit to star Tage Thompson in their win Sunday over the New Jersey Devils, the Sabres' toughness and spirit was called out a bit over the last couple of days. That probably leads to them starting this game off with a fight between Mathieu Olivier and Dennis Gilbert. Olivier wins it with ease.
We're through one in Buffalo, with the Sabres leading it 1-0 after receiving a fortuitous bounce.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 5, 2025
Buffalo's toughness has been challenged in recent days, so they started the game off by fighting Mathieu Olivier and that went about as expected. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/KI7utp64fn
(10:07 — BUF Goal): Buffalo gets a good break to start the scoring. The Sabres initial shot attempt is blocked by Denton Mateychuk but bounces right to Bowen Byram, who is in the middle of the slot and whips it past Elvis Merzlikins for the 1-0 Buffalo lead.
2nd Period
(1:47— CBJ Goal): Johnson with an absolutely beautiful goal to tie the game at 1-1. He starts the sequence by taking a great board-pass from James van Riemsdyk. From there, Johnson takes it the left face-off dot, stops on a dime and spins around before getting a backhand shot off that fools Reimer and hits the twine to tie the game at 1-1.
"I thought (Byram) matched my speed pretty good; I was thinking I'd drive to the net but I thought he was probably going to get me closed off," said Johnson. "Luckily I kind of had the perfect shot there."
This goal could be Kent Johnson's most stylish of the season. A backhand beauty for #91 that brought the game even. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/n19uEItJzg
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 5, 2025
(12:15 — BUF Goal): Alex Tuch restores Buffalo's lead on a perfect deflection goal. Gilbert fires from just inside the blueline, and about halfway towards the net, Tuch is in the slot to deflect it and ring it off the post before it gets past Merzlikins to make it 2-1 Sabres.
(18:56 — BUF Goal): Buffalo extends the lead to 3-1 on another redirect by Tuch after another shot from just inside the blueline, this time from Rasmus Dahlin.
3rd Period
(12:38 — CBJ Goal): A lot of chatter before the play between van Riemsdyk and Provorov, who appeared to have been discussing the exact scenario that played out. The Blue Jackets win the faceoff, Damon Severson skates up the wall and then throws it in front to Provorov, who had snuck behind the Buffalo defense and tips it in to cut Buffalo's lead to 3-2.
Provorov's goal to bring the #CBJ within one, but they'll need another in the final two minutes here. It's 3-2 Buffalo. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/PI5ZWmvAAa
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 5, 2025
| CBJ | GAME STATS | BUF |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | SHOTS | 21 |
| 50% | FACEOFFS | 50% |
| 0/1 | POWER PLAY | 0/1 |
| 1/1 | PENALTY KILL | 1/1 |
| 18 | HITS | 24 |
| 17 | GIVEAWAYS | 22 |
| 3 | TAKEAWAYS | 3 |
| 18 | BLOCKED SHOTS | 17 |
| ALL SITUATIONS ADVANCED STATS | ||
| 2.56 | EXPECTED GOALS | 2.16 |
| 63 | SHOT ATTEMPTS | 55 |
| 25 | SCORING CHANCES | 27 |
| 11 | HIGH-DANGER CHANCES | 11 |
| Data via NHL.com & NaturalStatTrick.com | ||
Stat Chat:
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The second period did the Blue Jackets in. They gave up two deflection goals, were out-attempted 25-15, had just eight scoring chances compared to Buffalo's 18, and the Sabres led 7-2 in the middle frame on high-danger chances.
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Despite just one chance on the power play in this game, the Blue Jackets are now at seven straight games without a power-play goal and are just 2-for-21 since losing Sean Monahan on January 7th.
- Splitting faceoff wins against the Sabres, the Blue Jackets ended a streak of 11 straight games where they had won less than half of the draws. Luca Del Bel Belluz had a big faceoff win that led to Provorov's goal.
Up Next:
After nearly two weeks away from the friendly confines, the Blue Jackets return to Nationwide Arena for a 7 p.m. face-off against the Utah Hockey Club. This will be Utah's first-ever visit to Columbus.
