Linus Weissbach scored the tying goal with 54 seconds left in the third period to help the Buffalo Sabres to a 5-4 shootout win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Tuesday.
Weissbach had two assists for the Sabres, who scored three times in the third period in their preseason opener. Jack Quinn scored the only goal in the shootout. The 20-year-old forward was the No. 8 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. Jake Bean had a goal and two assists in his Blue Jackets debut after being acquired in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 24. He did not play in the preseason opener Monday, a 3-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Michael Mersch and JJ Peterka scored third-period goals for the Sabres. Aaron Dell made 12 saves; he was replaced at 9:56 of the second period by Dustin Tokarski, who made 16 saves. Oliver Bjorkstrand scored at 5:56 and then on the power play at 9:37 of the first period to give the Blue Jackets a 2-0 lead. Arttu Ruotsalainen scored for the Sabres to make it 2-1 at 11:20 of the first. Vladislav Gavrikov made it 3-1 27 seconds in the second period. Bean scored at 16:08 to make it 4-1. Elvis Merzlikins made 14 saves for the Blue Jackets. Jet Greaves made 16 saves in the third period.
