COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Buffalo Sabres came up short on a fast-paced, chance-filled opening night, losing 6-3 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday at Nationwide Arena.
Buffalo will return home at 0-1-0 after going 0-for-5 on the power play and 1-for-3 on the penalty kill.
“It was a night where special teams was a difference maker,” said coach Lindy Ruff.
That 0-for-5 doesn’t tell the entire story. One man advantage expired moments before Konsta Helenius buried a wide-angle one-timer, continuing an encouraging night for the second unit. And the Sabres’ last power play, midway through the third period with a 4-3 deficit, saw Jack Quinn weave through the slot and beat goalie Jet Greaves with a backhand, only to be denied by the post.
Still the Sabres acknowledged their missed opportunities on a night where one more timely goal could’ve flipped things. One-and-done plays for the first unit, in particular, meant too much time retrieving pucks from their own end.
“A little sloppy, I guess. I thought we had some good looks, to be honest,” said Quinn, who scored an even-strength goal and led the team with nine shot attempts (four on goal). “But a game like that with five power plays, we’ve got to find a way to get one.”
It had the feel of a season opener, with a fair share of broken plays and defensive lapses by both teams. Two of the Blue Jackets’ 5-on-5 goals came directly off faceoffs – boosted by a dominant first period, the home team won 55 percent of the game's draws. And their two power-play goals, both penalties resulting from Sabres turnovers, came from forwards with a bit too much space to work with in the slot.
