CBJ vs. Sabres Preview
The CBJ are on the road again. This game against the Sabres will be game three of an eight-game stretch that will see them alternate home and away games.
The Buffalo Sabres are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games and have lost four of their last five games in total. The Sabres have been up and down this season and even saw them beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 9-3, just one game after getting beat 9-4 themselves. They have some good players but have seemed to play some middling hockey this season, much like a lot of teams. Their special teams rank near the bottom and they give up a ton of goals.
The Sabres are currently 7th in the Atlantic, 14th in the East, and 27th in the NHL. They're currently one point better in the standings than the Jackets.
Three Keys
- Keep Pouring In Goals. The Jackets have scored 66 goals in the last 18 games, which is second in the league in that span at 3.67 goals a game. One of those games was a 9-4 drubbing of Buffalo in Buffalo.
- Defend Your Goalies. Sure the Jackets are scoring a bunch, but it would be wise to protect your goalie. The CBJ have given up 4 or more goals in 8 games in December, and with Daniil Tarasov and Spencer Martin most likely being the two goalies for tonight, they need to play D in front of them. Buffalo has skilled forwards who can score when they want to it seems.
- Turn Adam Fantilli Loose. Rookie Adam Fantilli is on a bit of a hot streak. He has points in three straight games and six points in his last six games. He set the CBJ rookie record for most goals and points by a rookie for the month of December and has 22 points in 37 games this season. He sits tied for second in rookie points. He's only averaging a little over 15 minutes a game, with fans and media both screaming that he needs more ice time. Turn the kid loose, let him make his mistakes, and learn from them. Against the Sabres last game he had a goal and an assist but only played 14 minutes. Let the kid run.
Series History
- Columbus is 14-7-2 on the road vs. Buffalo, recently winning 9-4 on December 19th.
- The all-time series is led by Columbus 25-14-3.
- The Jackets are 13-5-2 in the last 20 games against the Sabres.
- The Blue Jackets are 10-3-2 in their last 15 games in Buffalo.
Who to watch for Buffalo
- Jeff Skinner and 14 goals and 25 points, including five power play goals.
- Rasmus Dahlin has 10 goals and 29 points and has nine power play points.
- Casey Mittelstadt has 9 goals and 30 points.
- Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is 6-8-2 with a .892 save %.
Player Notes
- Yegor Chinakhov has 4 points in 5 career games vs. the Sabres. He had two assists in a December 19th blowout win.
- Johnny Gaudreau has 20 points in 17 career games, including a three-point night on December 19th.
- Kent Johnson has 3 points in 4 games against Buffalo, and has scored in both games he's played in Buffalo.
- Ivan Provorov has 16 points in 26 career games vs. Buffalo. He also had two assists on December 19th.
Injuries
- Adam Boqvist (shoulder strain) is on Injured Reserve retroactive to Dec. 5 (Approx. 4 Weeks); 10 games
- Boone Jenner (fractured jaw) is on Injured Reserve retroactive to Dec. 9 (Approx. 6 Weeks); 9 games
- Patrik Laine (clavicle fracture) is on Injured Reserve retroactive to Dec. 14 (Approx. 6 Weeks); 6 games
- Nick Blankenburg (upper body) is on Injured Reserve retroactive to Dec. 19 (day-to-day); 4 games
- Sean Kuraly (abdominal injury) is on Injured Reserve retroactive to Dec. 23; 2 games
- Zach Werenski (ankle); is on Injured Reserve on Dec. 29 (week-to-week); 1 game
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 131
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on Bally Sports Ohio. As always, the legendary Jeff Rimer will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 105.7 with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
Join Jason Newland's Columbus Blue Jacket page on Bunches, a new app that connects sports fans. Also, you can watch a new YouTube game show about the Blue Jackets, Around the Fifth Line.