Sabres shut out Blue Jackets

Buffalo, NY (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Sabres got a big two points in the standings Thursday night with a 5-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Colten Ellis led the way for Buffalo with 37 saves, earning his first career NHL shutout.

With the win, Buffalo stays atop the Atlantic Division improving to 106 points on the season and now control their destiny to win the division with just two games remaining in the regular season.

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After failing on an early power play, Buffalo got on the board later in the first as Peyton Krebs snapped a wrister past Columbus goaltender Jet Greaves with 6:19 remaining in the first period.

Krebs lights the lamp

Each team got a chance on the power play in the first period, but neither could convert with the man advantage.

The second period had a ton of action back and forth with out any stoppages for an extended period of time but no goals to show for it. Buffalo got another chance with the man advantage but could not extend their 1-0 lead.

Once again the power plays struggled in the second, as both teams again failed to score on their respective times with the man advantage.

The Sabres extended their lead midway through the third period as Josh Doan jumped on a loose puck at the blue line and broke in to make it a 2-0 game.

Doan extends the lead

Later in the third, Buffalo pushed the play and scored twice in less than a minute to quickly blow the game open. First it was Logan Stanley on a beautiful cross crease feed to Jack Quinn for the Sabres third goal of the game.

Quinn roofs it

Then just 0:25 seconds later it was Josh Doan getting a great pass in front from Zach Benson to make it 4-0.

Doan's second of the night

As the clock ticked down in the final frame, Columbus was in desperation mode and pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker. Rasmus Dahlin would cap off the great night with a long range empty net goal from behind the Buffalo net to make it a 5-0.

The Sabres defense locked down the final three minutes of the game and helped Colten Ellis secure his first career NHL shut out.

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GAME SUMMARY:

Scoring Summary:

First Period:

BUF: 13:41 - Peyton Krebs (12) (Josh Norris)

CBJ: NONE

Second Period:

BUF: NONE

CBJ: NONE

Third Period:

BUF: 7:19 - Josh Doan (24) (Unassisted), 13:21 - Jack Quinn (20) (Logan Stanley, Jason Zucker), 14:47 - Josh Doan (25) (Zach Benson, Josh Norris), 16:55 - Rasmus Dahlin (19)(ENG) (Logan Stanley, Tyson Kozak)

CBJ: NONE

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STATS OF THE GAME:

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Bluestar Home Services Three Stars of the Game:

1.) Colten Ellis (BUF)
2.) Josh Doan (BUF)
3.) Peyton Krebs (BUF)

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What's Next: The Sabres have a few days off before they head out on the road to take on the Chicago Blackhawks Monday night for a 8:30 p.m. ET puck drop. Catch all of the action starting with the pregame show at 7:30 p.m. ET with Brian Koziol.