Buffalo Sabres VS Columbus Blue Jackets – Knee Jerk Reaction

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Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Sabres haven’t found a way to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets this year, until tonight. Somehow, someway, the Sabres scored 5 goals tonight and they crushed the Blue Jackets win streak. Even more impressive about tonight’s win was that it was on the road. The Blue Jackets, and more specifically their starting netminder Sergei Bobrovsky, will be kicking themselves after this loss.

What an opening goal from Matt Ellis, just goes to show that anything can happen when the puck is flung towards the goal! What a backhand! Sergei Bobrovsky was 7-0 since he came back from a groin injury, really surprised that he let in a goal like that.

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Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

Konopka vs Bass was an okay fight at best, but it made the end of the first period a little more exciting. Good to see Konopka throw some punches in the blue & gold though, he could be a great replacement for John Scott – if the Sabres don’t re-sign him.

It is nice to see the Sabres actually capitalize on poor play from the opposition, that was the case at the end of the first period when Christian Ehrhoff scored on a rocket of a slap-shot, the icing on the cake, it was a short-handed goal. The Blue Jackets couldn’t get the puck out of their own zone, and seemed to have some miscommunication because Bobrovsky even had to step in and attempt to clear the puck.

As the story has been all season long, the Sabres had some serious trouble in their own zone. They can’t clear the puck and/or move the puck into the neutral zone, and they ended up chasing the Blue Jackets all over their own end.

Sergei Bobrovsky (72) – Phil Varone (84)

Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Sabres chased Bobrovsky out of the net! What is this world coming too! The reigning Vezina winner was not on his game tonight, and Marcus Foligno placed the final dagger when he scored the Sabres second short-handed goal of the night early in the second period.

After Bobrovsky was pulled, the second period seemed to slow down a bit, McElhinney stepped in for the Blue Jackets and that seemed to give Columbus a boost in their play. Ryan Miller had other plans for the Blue Jackets tonight though, unlike Bobrovsky, Miller was on his game.

The third period got a little exciting when the Blue Jackets scored their second goal of the game. At that point it was surprising that Columbus had only scored two, they had plenty of time in the zone throughout each period. Miller really kept the Sabres in this one, and for once (not really once, but you get my point) he kept them in the game when they were actually winning!

Some quick thoughts….

• Zemgus Girgenson seemed quieter than usual tonight
• Foligno had a good game
• Varone looked pretty good again
• Miller once again proved he is on top of his game, even though the Sabres are in last place

Not only did the Sabres get a huge win, they did it against one of the hottest teams in the NHL right now. It wasn’t the prettiest win, and I am still not sure how they scored 5 goals, but they did!