The Columbus Blue Jackets ended Buffalo’s NHL-best 10-game winning streak with a 5-1 victory Saturday at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus scored three times in the first period to take control early. Denton Mateychuk opened the scoring at 3:00, followed by Brendan Gaunce’s short-handed goal and Dmitri Voronkov’s tally to close out the period.
Mathieu Olivier added insurance in the second period, while Cole Sillinger sealed it with an empty-net goal in the third.
Jet Greaves made 32 saves for Columbus. Damon Severson and Zach Werenski each recorded two assists in the win.
For Buffalo, Josh Doan scored the lone goal and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 30 shots. The Sabres hadn’t lost since Dec. 8 before Saturday’s defeat.
It marked just the third time in franchise history that Buffalo had a 10-game win streak snapped.
Mateychuk got things started early, burying Columbus’s second shot of the game from outside the right circle. The goal extended his point streak to six games.
Werenski returned after missing four games with a lower-body injury and picked up the secondary assist. He’s now recorded a point in his last 13 home games.
Blue Jackets defensemen lead the NHL with 32 goals this season.
Doan answered back at 11:26, tapping in a rebound at the far post for his second goal in as many games. But Gaunce restored Columbus’s lead with 5:56 left in the period, scoring his second career short-handed goal.
Voronkov made it 3-1 three minutes later, sliding the puck past Luukkonen.
Olivier extended the lead to 4-1 at 8:04 of the second period with a backhander that gave Columbus breathing room.
Buffalo pulled Luukkonen with 9:08 remaining, but Sillinger made them pay with an empty-netter less than a minute later.
The Blue Jackets have now won four of the last five games in this series against Buffalo.
What’s Next
The Sabres return home to host Vancouver on Tuesday.
Columbus faces Pittsburgh at home Sunday.
