Columbus Blue Jackets (44 pts) vs. Buffalo Sabres (54pts) Game Preview
The Blue Jackets and Sabres meet tonight for the third and final time this season. Each team has won a game in the series with Columbus dropping 9 goals on Buffalo back on December 19th, and the Sabres beating the CBJ on December 30th by a score of 3-2.
Buffalo comes into this game having won their last game against the Montreal Canadiens. They're also 5-5 in their last 10. The Jackets beat Anaheim on Wednesday night and are 4-5-1 in the last 10.
This game will be newly acquired Alex Nylander's first game as a Columbus Blue Jacket. He comes to Columbus via a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins that saw Emil Bemström go back the other way. Nylander was recalled and is expected to join the Jackets in Buffalo tonight. We'll find out later today if he'll play.
The Sabres currently sit 6th in the Atlantic, 13th in the East, and 25th in the NHL.
Series History vs. The Sabres
- Columbus is 11-7-1 all-time vs. the Sabres inside NWA and 25-14-4 in all meetings.
- The Jackets are 7-2-3 in the last 13 games.
- The CBJ are 6-3-0 in the last 9 games at Nationwide Arena.
Who To Watch For The Sabres
- JJ Peterka has 19 goals and 37 points.
- Casey Mittelstadt has 31 assists and 44 points.
- Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is 15-14-2 with a save % of .911. He's started the last three games for the Sabres.
- Eric Comrie is 1-6-0 with a save % of .868.
CBJ Player Notes vs. The Sabres
- Johnny Gaudreau has 20 points in 18 career games.
- Yegor Chinakhov has 5 points in 6 games.
- Zach Werenski has 12 points in 16 games.
Injuries
- Patrik Laine (clavicle fracture-Dec. 14; NHL Player Assistance Program-Jan. 28); 17 games
- Adam Fantilli (calf laceration on Jan. 28); expected to miss 8 weeks; 6 games
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 186
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 97.1 The Fan with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
More From THN Columbus
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.