Buffalo Sabres vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 17th 2024
Preview and Prediction
The Buffalo Sabres have only managed to secure one victory in their first five games of the season, as they prepare to face off against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
Despite their underwhelming start, the Sabres have actually held a lead in three of their losses, including a disappointing 6-5 overtime defeat against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday.
During their first game of a three-game road trip, Buffalo surrendered leads of 3-1 and 5-4, ultimately leading to their defeat.
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"We need to be smarter and more aware of our surroundings when we have a lead, especially with a 3-1 advantage," said Sabres forward Tage Thompson. "However, I was impressed with our determination and effort to fight back and take the lead again in the third period. It's a frustrating loss, but we have another opportunity to bounce back."
The Sabres, who have not made the playoffs in a record-breaking 13 consecutive seasons, were hoping for a strong start to the season but have struggled to put together a complete performance.
In their game against the Penguins, the Sabres scored on their first two shots, but were unable to maintain their momentum in what became a back-and-forth battle. Despite goals from JJ Peterka and Ryan McLeod, Buffalo was unable to hold onto their lead.
"We were all confident that we had the game in the bag, and I think that's what ultimately cost us the win," said Peterka.
"It's a good lesson for our team," added McLeod. "We need to play a full 60 minutes and then move on to the next game."
The Blue Jackets are coming off an emotional 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers in their home opener on Tuesday, where the focus was on honoring the late Johnny Gaudreau.
"Of course we wanted to get a win for Johnny," said Columbus coach Dean Evason. "But we spoke to the team after the game and reminded them that we are playing good hockey, we just didn't come out on top."
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Gaudreau and his brother Matthew tragically passed away on August 29th after being hit by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bikes. The Blue Jackets paid tribute to Gaudreau by raising a banner with his jersey number, showing a tribute video, and honoring him during warmups and at the start of the game.
"I felt like Johnny was watching over us," said teammate and close friend Sean Monahan. "I had a feeling that I was going to score. Unfortunately, we lost the game, but I could definitely feel John with us."
As the Blue Jackets try to move forward and find success on the ice, their task has become even more challenging. The team announced that defenseman Erik Gudbranson has been placed on injured reserve, while goalie Jet Greaves was called up from the minors on an emergency recall after starting goalie Elvis Merzlikins suffered an upper-body injury. Gudbranson left Tuesday's game after colliding with Monahan.
Columbus currently has five players out due to injury, but forward Justin Danforth (wrist) is close to returning and could potentially play on Thursday. David Jiricek is expected to take Gudbranson's place in the lineup.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Recap APR 10TH 2015
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Right winger Cam Atkinson scored off a long rebound midway through the third period to break a tie and help the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday in Nationwide Arena.
Atkinson's goal, at 10:35 of the third, and an empty-net goal by center Boone Jenner in the final minute, extended the Blue Jackets' point streak to a franchise-record-tying 12 games (11-0-1).
The Blue Jackets have not lost in regulation since March 15.
The Sabres have done a lot of losing this season, but the reward is finally coming into focus.
The loss secures 30th and last place in the overall NHL standings for the Sabres, meaning they will have either the No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick -- their pick of potential superstar forwards Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel -- at the NHL draft this June in Sunrise, Fla.
When Atkinson scored, Blue Jackets fans and Sabres fans alike jumped from their chairs to celebrate.
Left winger Nick Foligno and left winger Matt Calvert also scored for the Blue Jackets, while defenseman David Savard had two assists.
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 20 saves for his 30th win on the season.
The Sabres got goals from center Mikhail Grigorenko and right winger Brian Gionta, while goaltender Anders Lindback had 32 saves.
The Blue Jackets took a 1-0 lead only 14 seconds into the game, the earliest in a game they scored all season.
Foligno entered the attack zone with plenty of speed, and he ripped a one-timer off a feed from center Brandon Dubinsky that beat Lindback.
The Sabres answered, however, barely two minutes later.
Grigorenko's slap shot off the rush -- Gionta set him up with a nifty drop pass -- made it 1-1 at 2:25.
The Blue Jackets took a 2-1 lead at 9:35 of the second when Calvert buried a wrister from the left circle.
It marked the fourth straight game in which the Jackets' fourth line scored.
The Sabres pulled even again, this time on the power play with 59 seconds remaining in the second when Gionta scored.
The game drifted into the third tied at 2-2, but Atkinson settled matters with an east put-back.
Lindback made the initial save on a slap shot by defenseman Dalton Prout, but the puck kicked off his left pad and shot right to Atkinson.
Jenner capped the scoring when he followed Calvert's long-range miss with an easy shot.
NOTES: Blue Jackets D Fedor Tyutin returned to the lineup after missing two games with a cut atop his left foot, suffered during a game vs. Pittsburgh on April 4. ... Another nasty cut: As the Blue Jackets were rushing off the bench to celebrate a 5-0 win over Toronto on Wednesday, rookie RW Alexander Wennberg's right skate slit the left wrist of RW Cam Atkinson, a cut that took 10 stitches to close. ... The Sabres recalled D Chad Ruhwadel from minor league Rochester after D Andre Benoit (upper body) was injured.