Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Several players had multi-point performances on Tuesday night to help lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center. The win caps off a perfect 4-0 homestand, and gives Buffalo its first four-game winning streak in more than two years.
Right off the opening faceoff, the gloves were dropped by Sabres defenseman Dennis Gilbert and Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier. Each player received a five-minute major for fighting.
The Sabres were able to strike first thanks to a puck that was blocked and loose in the slot. Bowen Byram converted the opportunity for his sixth goal of the year.
Jason Zucker took the shot that was blocked, while Alex Tuch was also credited with an assist on the game's first goal.
James Reimer made the start in goal for Buffalo after Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was ruled out due to a minor injury. Reimer made 12 saves in the opening period, while Columbus netminder Elvis Merzlikins made seven saves on eight shots faced.
The Blue Jackets were able to score early in the second period to even the score at 1-1.
Columbus forward Kent Johnson was able to spin and use a backhand shot to beat Reimer less than two minutes into the middle frame. Ivan Provorov and James van Riemsdyk assisted on Johnson's 16th goal of the season.
The Sabres were able to restore their one-goal lead, though, thanks to another contribution from the defense.
Gilbert used a shot-pass to the slot, finding Tuch for a re-direct into the back of the Blue Jackets net for his 17th goal of the year. Byram was also credited with an assist to help Buffalo take a 2-1 lead midway through the period.
Tuch added his second goal of the period in the dying moments to extend Buffalo's lead to 3-1. This time, the Sabres winger was able to get a piece of Rasmus Dahlin's shot from the blue line for his 18th goal of the year.
Zucker was credited with another assist on the goal to give Buffalo a two-goal advantage heading into the intermission.
Provorov crashed the net with less than eight minutes left in the third period, and had a puck deflect off his skate and into the net. Damon Severson sent the puck toward the Buffalo goal, and Columbus had cut its deficit to one, 3-2.
Buffalo recorded only one shot on goal in the third period, but Reimer stood strong in net, making eight saves on nine shots faced to preserve the victory.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 10:07 - Bowen Byram (6) (Jason Zucker, Alex Tuch)
CBJ: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 12:15 - Alex Tuch (17) (Dennis Gilbert, Bowen Byram); 18:56 - Alex Tuch (18) (Rasmus Dahlin, Jason Zucker)
CBJ: 1:47 - Kent Johnson (16) (Ivan Provorov, James van Riemsdyk)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
CBJ: 12:38 - Ivan Provorov (5) (Damon Severson, Luca Del Bel Belluz)
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Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Alex Tuch - BUF
2.) Bowen Byram - BUF
3.) Jason Zucker - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres have one more game before the two-week mid-February break for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
Buffalo travels to Nashville for a meeting with the Predators on Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena. The puck drops at 8 p.m. on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage with Brian Koziol starts at 7 p.m. on WGR.