Columbus, Ohio (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres will try to win their fifth-straight road game on Friday when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Sabres have won six of their last seven on the road, which is second-best in the NHL since Jan. 4.
Since Jan. 1, the Sabres are fourth in the NHL in team defense with a 2.22 goals-against average. Their penalty killing has also been stellar in that timeframe, as it’s fifth in the league at 85.5%.
The power play since Jan. 1 has also improved, sitting 17th at 19.2%.
All that has added up to an improved record as since Jan. 1. The Sabres are 17th in the NHL with a .556 points percentage, which is a record of 10-8-0.
Henri Jokiharju had gone 24-straight games without a point, but now he’s on a three-game point streak with a goal and three assists for four points.
Jordan Greenway has five points in five games.
In his last 11 games, Dylan Cozens has four goals and eight assists for 12 points.
Casey Mittelstadt has cooled off considerably with just two points in seven games.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has won three of his last four starts.
Erik Johnson is sick and won’t play, which means Ryan Johnson will go back into the lineup.
Columbus comes home from their road trip out West, returning with an even 2-2-0 record.
Back on Dec. 19, the Blue Jackets came in and handed the Sabres an embarrassing 9-4 loss. However, the Sabres won the rematch on Dec. 30 with a 3-2 victory in overtime when Columbus came back to Buffalo.
Columbus has been playing without winger Patrik Laine and the injured Adam Fantilli. Laine entered the NHL’s Player Assistance Program.
The Blue Jackets acquired former Sabres first-round pick Alex Nylander from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. He won’t play against the Sabres.
In their last 12 games against the Sabres, Columbus has done very well, going 7-2-3. In their last 21 against Buffalo, the Blue Jackets are 13-5-3.
Captain Boone Jenner is on a five-game points streak, scoring five goals and eight points.
Johnny Gaudreau has points in seven out of eight games, netting a goal and 10 assists for 11 points.
Gaudreau has been extremely disappointing since signing as a free agent. This season, he only has eight goals and 32 assists for 40 points in 55 games. He’s still the Blue Jackets' leading scorer, though.
However, his status for Friday's game is uncertain after Gaudreau missed the morning skate due to the birth of his child.
Daniil Tarasov will be in goal for Columbus on Friday. He’s 4-6-2 this season with a 3.78 goals-against average and an .881 save percentage.
Despite wanting to be traded, Elvis Merzlikins has played five of the Jackets' last six games, and nine of their last 12. He’s 10-12-7 this season with a 3.33 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage.
Columbus is 31st in team defense, giving up 3.73 goals per-game. Buffalo is 14th at 3.05 goals-against per-game.
Join the Bulldog for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. EST when you’ll hear from Don Granato, Eric Robinson and Connor Clifton.
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