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Buffalo Sabres Host Blue Jackets In Matinee

By Melissa Kania

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The Buffalo Sabres will look for their first win of the season as they host the Columbus Blue Jackets this afternoon for a Columbus Day matinee.

The Sabres, who have lost their first two games of the 2015-2016 NHL season, are facing a Blue Jackets team that has done the same.

Two teams go in, and only one team will come out with their first win of the year, but who will it be: Buffalo or Columbus?

The Blue Jackets come into Monday’s matinee after a pair of games against the New York Rangers, having suffered 4-2 and 5-2 losses.

In the season opener, Cam Atkinson and Brandon Saad had the goals for the Blue Jackets. Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Murray and Ryan Johansen notched assists.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 21 of 25 shots faced in the loss.

The following day, the teams finished off the home-and-home series in Manhattan. Boone Jenner notched his first goal of the season, as did Johansen. Fedor Tyutin, Nick Foligno and David Savard notched assists.

Once again, it was Bobrovsky in net for the Blue Jackets, at least to start. He allowed three goals on 15 shots in the first period and one goal on seven shots in the second. Curtis McElhinney came in for the third period, allowing one goal on seven shots faced.

The Sabres, of course, fell to Ottawa on Thursday before dropping a decision to Tampa Bay on Saturday.

In each game, the Sabres managed to put up just one goal – scored by Jack Eichel and Nicolas Deslauriers, respectively. They outshot Ottawa, but were outshot by Tampa Bay.

Robin Lehner made 11 saves in his Buffalo Sabres debut, while Chad Johnson made eight saves on nine shots in his debut. He then had 27 saves on 31 shots faced in Saturday’s loss.

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Last season, the Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets met three times. The Sabres were outscored 9-7 and won just one of the three meetings.

Zemgus Girgensons led the Sabres last season with three points in as many games against the Blue Jackets (2 goals, 1 assist). Marcus Foligno also put up two points against the Columbus squad.

For more info about last season’s matchups between the Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets, check out our opponent outlook.

With today’s game being an afternoon puck drop, there won’t be a morning skate, so we won’t for certain know anything about lineup or lines until the game gets closer.

It’s possible, however, that Buffalo Sabres captain Brian Gionta could play in his first game of the season today. He practiced with the team this weekend for the first time in several days and could be ready for Monday’s matinee after missing both previous games with a lower-body injury.

Brendan Guhle and Zach Bogosian are also both seemingly progressing in their recoveries, but neither is expected to play Monday.

As it stands right now, it’ll either be Chad Johnson or Nathan Lieuwen in net for the Buffalo Sabres. It’s expected that Johnson will once again get the green light in net on Monday afternoon, with Lieuwen – still on recall from the Amerks – to be his backup.

The puck drops at 3 p.m. at First Niagara Center. Today is a Kid’s Day game with special ticket offers, including a pre-game skate at HARBORCENTER. As usual, today’s game is on MSG in the Buffalo area and Bell TV throughout Southern Ontario. You can also catch today’s game on WGR550 radio (or online), which might be super helpful if you’re stuck at work on this “holiday.”

Next: Will Jack Eichel Win the Calder?

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