Columbus, OH (WGR 550) - Logical thinking fans knew the Buffalo Sabres weren’t going to go on a 50-game winning streak and their franchise tying 10-game losing streak is now over as they got dominated in Columbus 5-1. It was the Blue Jackets fourth win in five games, while for the first time in awhile, they fumbled and bumbled to a loss.
Coming into the game the Sabres had also won seven straight road games. Buffalo had a very early chance to take the lead when Josh Norris brought the puck to the net, but Jet Greaves, who is now 3-0-0 against the Sabres, made a big save.
It only took three minutes for Denton Maleychuk to float a shot at Luukkonen that went in off a Sabre. The Sabres goalie was also screened.
As sloppy as the Sabres were, they got things tied up when Owen Power kept a puck in, got his head up and found Josh Norris alone next to the post. He immediately saw he had a 2-on-1 at the crease and fed Josh Doan for a layup.
Nobody knew it at the time, but Columbus put the game away with two goals in 3:08. The first was shorthanded as Tage Thompson blew a tire at the Columbus blue line. That allowed Brendan Gaunce to score on the shorthanded breakaway. It’s not an easy save, but Luukkonen’s team needed another big save from him there.
The next goal was the one Luukkonen didn’t like because Dmitri Voronkov tipped with right through the five-hole to make it 3-1. Luukkonen felt he could’ve had it.
Lindy Ruff hadn’t inserted Jason Zucker back into the lineup and he will now be back on Tuesday. You don’t change the lineup when you’re winning. Zucker should definitely help a power play that hasn’t scored in six games and gone 0-for-14.
I had the chance to chat this morning with Tage Thompson for the pregame show about making the United States Olympic team. It’s something Thompson has wanted every since he was a small boy and he said,
“It was a pretty special feeling. We were told prior that we would be getting a phone call, so I knew I was going to get a call, but didn’t know how that call was going to go, but when I heard him say (Team USA general manager Bill Guerin) that I was going to make the team, it was a big weight off my shoulders. I’ve been working towards this goal, so it was a relief, a really cool feeling and nice to be able to share it with my teammates and my family.”
When Tage Thompson was on Team USA for the World Championship he won a Gold Medal along with Josh Doan who at the time, was still a Utah Mammoth. Thompson isn’t surprised at all that his now Sabre teammate has 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points in 40 games,
“I think I probably was one of the first ones when that trade happened telling everybody how good this kid was going to be and what a great piece and addition to our team not only on the ice, but in the locker-room.
“He’s just a great guy to be around and I think everybody sees and respects his game just the way he works and his tenacity on the puck and his attention to detail and I think that’s why he’s having success.”
On Saturday the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-1, so after the game Pittsburgh went into the first Eastern Conference Wild Card Position with a points percentage of .588 while Buffalo fell to the second Wild Card spot at .575. The Washington Capitals can go by Buffalo with a Saturday night home win against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Sabres play six of their next seven at home starting on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. Buffalo edged the Canucks in Vancouver 3-2.