3 Buffalo Sabres who stole the show in the preseason opener against Blue Jackets

The Buffalo Sabres got the job done in their first preseason game of the 2025-26 season after they secured a 4-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night. This was a really good team effort across the board, but these were three players in particular who stood out.

Alexandar Georgiev

Alexandar Georgiev was the last goalie to join the Buffalo Sabres after they signed him right before training camp. He would get the first ice time this preseason for the Sabres and did a really good job.

In the two periods that he played, Georgiev would stop all 16 shots he faced, and he was really tested in the first period.

It remains to be seen what his role is going to be with the Sabres this season, and it is dependent on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's health. The Sabres' starting goalie has yet to practice due to an injury, and the longer it goes, Georgiev's chances increase to make the roster.

If UPL is ready for the start of the season, Georgiev could still win the backup job, especially if he puts together a few more performances like he did against the Blue Jackets.

Bowen Byram

The Buffalo Sabres split their expected Top 6 on the defense with Owen Power and Michael Kesselring playing together as one pair and Bowen Byram joining them for this first game. Byram would be paired with first-round pick Radim Mrtka, and Ruff was quick to make it clear that this didn't mean anything more than pairing the rookie with a veteran.

It was a good move by the Sabres' head coach because Mrtka would get his first point of the preseason off an assist to Byram, which broke the scoreless tie in the second period.

There were a lot of questions this offseason about whether or not Byram would be with the team this season. He was looking for a new contract as a restricted free agent, and it seemed more likely the Sabres would trade him.

In the end, they agreed to a two-year deal and the Buffalo Sabres will certainly benefit from having Byram as a part of their defense this season.

Josh Dunne

Josh Dunne is not someone who has been discussed much in training camp or leading up to the season, but he made his presence known in this game. It started early when he would drop the gloves against Max McCue.

Then in the second period, Dunne did a great job on Byram's goal, screening the goalie and helping the defenseman find the back of the net. Dunne finished the game with a team-leading four shots while also adding three hits.

He is entering the final year of his two-year contract with the Sabres and should be back in the AHL for this season. However, these types of performances are something the coaching staff will remember if there is a need during the season to bring someone up for a game or two.