The Columbus Blue Jackets snapped the Buffalo Sabres’ 10-game winning streak with a strong, complete team effort at Nationwide Arena. The return of Zach Werenski made an immediate impact, as the defenseman recorded two assists, extending his run to four straight multi-point games. Werenski now has points in six consecutive games and 12 points over his last six, anchoring the Blue Jackets from the blue line.
In goal, Jet Greaves delivered another solid performance, stopping 32 of 33 shots to give Columbus the stability it needed all night. Offensively, the scoring was well-balanced, with five different goal scorers, and the Blue Jackets’ defense led the way, as three defensemen recorded two-point games.
With the win, Columbus continues its strong stretch, improving to four wins in its last five games.
Game Summary
First Period — Columbus Leads 3–1
The Blue Jackets set the tone early and took control late, building a 3–1 lead after 20 minutes in a fast, physical opening period.
Columbus opened the scoring at 3:00, when Denton Mateychuk fired a wrist shot from the top of the circle for his eighth goal of the season. After a drop pass from Boone Jenner, Mateychuk stepped into the shot and beat Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen cleanly to give the Blue Jackets a 1–0 lead.
Buffalo answered at 11:26, as Josh Doan tied the game 1–1 with his 12th goal of the season. The play started when Owen Power intercepted a puck at the blue line to keep the play alive before the puck moved down low and found Doan on the back door for a quick finish.
The momentum swung back in Columbus’ favor late in the period. With 5:56 remaining, Brendan Gaunce capitalized on a Buffalo mistake at the blue line, jumping into the open lane for a short-handed breakaway and beating Luukkonen for his second goal of the season. It marked Columbus’ third short-handed goal of the year.
Just over three minutes later, the Blue Jackets struck again. Dmitri Voronkov made it 3–1 at 17:12, tipping a point shot from Ivan Provorov past Luukkonen for his 14th goal of the season, giving Columbus a two-goal cushion heading into the intermission.
After one period, the Blue Jackets led 3–1, closing the frame with strong special teams, opportunistic scoring, and momentum firmly on their side.
Second Period — Columbus Extends Lead
The second period was defined by strong goaltending at both ends, as Jet Greaves and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen kept scoring chances to a minimum for most of the frame. Greaves was especially sharp, coming up with several key saves to protect Columbus’ two-goal lead as Buffalo pushed for momentum.
The breakthrough came at 8:04, when Mathieu Olivier made it a 4–1 game for Columbus. The play started moments after a highlight-reel save by Greaves in front of Jack Quinn, keeping the Blue Jackets in control. Damon Severson lofted the puck into the neutral zone, where Owen Power lost coverage on Olivier. Olivier jumped into the clear, went in alone, and finished with a smooth backhand shot past Luukkonen for his fourth goal of the season.
It marked Olivier’s first goal since returning on Dec. 28 and his first goal in 10 games. The tally stood as the only goal of the period.
Buffalo had another opportunity on the power play but continued to struggle with the man advantage, finishing the night 0-for-5. After 40 minutes, Columbus remained firmly in control, outshooting Buffalo 14–11 in the period and carrying a three-goal lead into the third.
Third Period — Columbus Closes It Out
Holding a three-goal lead to start the third, Columbus played a smart, disciplined period to close out the game. Knowing that no lead is ever guaranteed in the NHL, the Blue Jackets took no chances, tightening the neutral zone, limiting Buffalo’s rush opportunities, and forcing the Sabres to dump pucks rather than attack with speed.
Buffalo pulled its goaltender midway through the period in an effort to generate offense, but Columbus turned that pressure into an opportunity. At 11:46, Cole Sillinger sealed the game with an empty-net goal, extending the lead to 5–1 and removing any doubt about the outcome.
From there, the Sabres were unable to mount a response, as the Blue Jackets stayed structured and composed through the final minutes. Columbus officially snapped Buffalo’s 10-game winning streak, backed by another excellent performance from Jet Greaves, who finished the night with a .970 save percentage.
Offensively, the Blue Jackets were led by their blue line, as Damon Severson, Zach Werenski, and Denton Mateychuk each recorded two-point performances in a complete team win.
Inside the Locker Room
Zach Werenski emphasized the importance of matching Buffalo’s confidence and staying focused on Columbus’ identity.
“That was a team that has a lot of confidence and you just have to meet it head-on,” Werenski said. “We weren’t caught up in the streak or anything like that. We just went out there and wanted to play our game, play confidently, and play with some swagger. I feel like we did that tonight.”
Werenski returned to the lineup after missing four games with a lower-body injury and was recently named to the United States roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Denton Mateychuk highlighted Columbus’ defensive structure as a key factor in limiting Buffalo’s speed and transition game.
“That was one of the keys to the game, staying above them and not giving them time and space,” Mateychuk said. “They’ve got some pretty good forwards and they like to attack off the rush. Being on the right side of the puck and not giving them extra space was important, and I think we did a pretty good job of that.”
Cole Sillinger pointed to the team’s response after a tough previous outing as a major step forward.
“We didn’t get the result that we wanted last game, and it just goes to show how complete you have to play and how much the full 60 minutes matter,” Sillinger said. “Tonight, I thought we rebounded very well, played with the lead the right way, got a couple more goals, and capped off a great win.”
Notes
- Werenski has 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) during a six-game personal point streak.
- Danton Heinen finished plus-1 with one hit in 8:51 of ice time in his Blue Jackets debut after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Yegor Chinakhov.
- Mason Marchment saw his five-game point streak come to an end. He recorded six points (4 goals, 2 assists) during the stretch after being acquired from the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 19.
Game Stats
| Stat | Sabres | Blue Jackets |
| Shots on Goal | 33 | 35 |
| Faceoff Win % | 52.5% | 47.5% |
| Power Play | 0/5 | 0/1 |
| Penalty Minutes | 6 | 14 |
| Hits | 15 | 23 |
| Blocked Shots | 15 | 13 |
| Giveaways | 21 | 14 |
| Takeaways | 2 | 5 |
Columbus Players Highlights
Z. Werenski 2A 2PTS 5SOG TOI 23;12 +1
D. Mateychuk 1G 1A 2PTS 1SOG TOI 24:15 +2
D. Severson 2A 2PTS 3SOG TOI 16:55 +2
J. Greaves 1 Goal on 33 SOG .970%
D. Gaunce 1G 1PTS 1SHG GWG 3BLK TOI 16:14
Three Stars of the Game
⭐ Jet Greaves (CBJ)
SV: 32 | GA: 1 | SV%: .970
⭐⭐ Denton Mateychuk (CBJ)
G: 1 | A: 1 | PTS: 2
⭐⭐⭐ Brendan Gaunce (CBJ)
G: 1 | A: 0 | PTS: 1
My Takeaway
Zach Werenski once again showed why he is the most important player on this Blue Jackets team. When he’s on the ice, Columbus looks like a different group. The puck moves faster, the transition game is cleaner, and the offense flows naturally through his first pass and his ability to jump into the rush. His impact goes well beyond the scoresheet, and being named to Team USA for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games only confirms his elite status.
In net, Jet Greaves was a difference-maker. He came up with multiple key saves at important moments, allowing Columbus to stay in control and protect its lead throughout the night.
The Blue Jackets’ penalty kill also deserves credit, shutting the door on all five Buffalo power-play opportunities, which prevented any momentum swing from the Sabres.
After the game, head coach Dean Evason said he was proud of his players for snapping Buffalo’s 10-game winning streak. He emphasized that beating a hot team is never easy and that discipline, structure, and execution were critical. Columbus stayed committed to the game plan, played as a group, and earned the result with a complete team effort.
Next Game
The Blue Jackets return to the ice Sunday afternoon to wrap up a back-to-back at home when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pittsburgh enters the matchup riding a four-game winning streak, making it a crucial four-point game for Columbus in the standings.
The Blue Jackets currently sit five points behind the Penguins, adding extra importance to the contest as they look to gain ground in the playoff race.
Puck drop: 3:00 PM EDT at Nationwide Arena.
