The Buffalo Sabres look to secure their first win of the season tonight as they welcome the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets to First Niagara Center.
The Sabres return to the ice tonight following the heartbreaking overtime loss on Tuesday night to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite dropping their fourth straight contest to open the season, the Sabres’ showcased tremendous improvement in their last outing.
The power play finally showed signs of life as Buffalo connected twice, with goals coming from Cody Hogdson and Jamie McBain, both their first tallies of the season. The game also featured the Sabres nab their first lead all season, although they were unable to keep it throughout the entire contest, as Tampa Bay tied the game on a controversial power play and eventually claimed the win in overtime.
Buffalo’s opponent recently netted a similar come-from-behind victory. Columbus rolls into action tonight following a 3-2 shootout victory on Saturday in Long Island, where they found themselves down by two goals to the Islanders in the first period, but climbed back with two goals of their own to take home their first win of the season.
While the Blue Jackets have only played in two games since the season’s inception, their roster has showcased more offensive firepower in their 1-1 record than the Sabres have after four contests. Columbus scored five times through five different players in their first two matches on the season; Buffalo has only scored four times in four games. 12 different Blue Jackets have already collected a point, while just five Sabres can say the same.
Buffalo will look not only to secure their first win on the year, but also to lift themselves from the bottom of the Atlantic division, where they currently sit in 8th. The Sabres are also just one of two teams (the other being the Minnesota Wild) currently without a win so far this season.
The puck drop is scheduled for 7 P.M. from First Niagara Center. Fans can catch the action on MSG or listen in through WGR 550.