Recap: Sabres Erase a Three Goal Deficit to Beat Blue Jackets

March 12th, 2017

The Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets got together for the second straight night. The Blue Jackets looked to be headed for an easy night after jumping out to a three-goal lead in the first twenty minutes. The Sabres responded, however, in the final 40 minutes of the game.

The Sabres erased the three-goal deficit in the second period. Columbus scored the go-ahead goal late last night to win the game. On this night the Sabres returned the favor and scored the winning goal with under three minutes to play and walk out of their building with two points.

First Period

The Sabres started out the game playing well and jumped out to early 4-0 lead in shots. However, after being unable to convert on an early power play, the Sabres took a back seat to the Blue Jackets. The visitors got on the board seven minutes into the game with a nice shot by David Savard that beat Anders Nilsson up high.

Columbus kept coming with the pressure and increased their lead to 2-0 on a highlight reel goal from captain Nick Foligno. He turned Jake McCabe inside out and beat Nilsson for his 24th of the season. The Blue Jacket’s weren’t done yet, as Oliver Bjorkstrand scored his fifth of the season on a layup to put his team up 3-0. They outshot the Sabres 12-2 in the final 15 minutes of the period and had a comfortable lead after 20 minutes and the home club seemingly disinterested.

Second Period

The second period was a complete 180-degree turn from the first. Robin Lehner took over for Nilsson to start the period. The Sabres got themselves back into the game 18 seconds in with Jake McCabe’s third of the season. A little over five minutes later Matt Moulson scored his 13th on the power play to pull the Sabres within one.

Came in after the first period and a couple guys spoke up a little bit – Jake McCabe

The Blue Jackets started to push back in the period, but Lehner was solid and made a few excellent saves to keep his team within one. With two seconds remaining, Sam Reinhart came off the bench to score his 16th of the season and tie the game at three after two periods. The two clubs got into a scuffle at the end of the period that saw Nic Deslauriers, Zach Bogosian and Scott Hartnell all get ten-minute misconducts.

 

Third Period

The Sabres continued their strong play and pressed for the go-ahead goal in the third period. Both clubs exchanged chances in the final 20 minutes, but it was the Sabres who would get the late goal on this night. On the power-play, Eichel would find Kane back door for this 25th of the season put the Sabres ahead 4-3 with 2:29 remaining.

The Jackets got close to tying the game late, but Lehner stood tall including making an unbelievable pad save on Atkinson in the final minute. Eichel would score an empty netter to for 19th of the season to seal the comeback win for the Sabres 5-3.

 

Scoring Summary

FIRST PERIOD

CBJ – David Savard (5) assisted by Sam Gagner and Scott Hartnell – 7:09

CBJ – Nick Foligno (24) assisted by Brandon Saad and Zach Werenski – 14:00

CBJ – Oliver Bjorkstrand (5) assisted by Sam Gagner – 17:56

SECOND PERIOD

BUF – Jake McCabe (3) assisted by Nic Deslauriers and Evander Kane – 0:18

BUF – Matt Moulson PPG (13) assisted by Zach Bogosian and Cody Franson – 5:43

BUF – Sam Reinhart (16) assisted by Rasmus Ristolainen – 19:57

THIRD PERIOD

BUF – Evander Kane PPG (25) assisted by Jack Eichel and Rasmus Ristolainen – 17:31

BUF – Jack Eichel ENG (19) assisted by Ryan O’Reilly – 19:56

  THW Three Stars

First: Robin Lehner (19 saves, 0 GA)

Second: Jack Eichel (1 G, 1 A)

Third: Evander Kane (1 G, 1 A, GWG)

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Next Up

Buffalo Sabres at San Jose Sharks

HP Pavillion – 10:30 p.m. EST (Tuesday, March 14)

Broadcast channels: MSG-B & CSN-CA

2016-17 Season Series: Feb. 7 – Sabres 5, Sharks 4 (OT)

Next Up

Columbus Blue Jackets at Philadelphia Flyers

Wells Fargo Center – 7:00 p.m. EST (Monday, March 13)

Broadcast channel: SN1, SNE, SNO, CSN-PH & FS-O

2016-17 Season Series: Jan 8. – Blue Jackets 2, Flyers 1 (OT)

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