Sabres fall to Blue Jackets despite Thompson's 2-goal effort

Dylan Cozens could have highlighted any number of silver linings following a 7-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Sabres outshot their opponent, 33-29. They came out flying on the second night of a back-to-back set and nearly clawed their way back from a three-goal deficit.
It was, for long stretches, a strong outing by a team that suffered a heartbreaking, last-second loss at Madison Square Garden less than 24 hours prior. Cozens was more interested in the stretch that cost him.
"Yeah, aside from a few minutes," the 20-year-old said afterward. "But that's where we've got to get better is playing that full 60."

The game was closer than the final score suggested. The Blue Jackets tacked on a pair of empty-net goals during the final minute, stifling the Sabres' attempt at a comeback. The Sabres took 15 shots during the third period but could not push the tying goal past goaltender Joonas Korpisalo.
The difference was a stretch of three goals scored just 3:49 apart by the Blue Jackets to open the second. Oliver Bjorkstrand beat Dustin Tokarski with a shot on a 2-on-1 rush to set off the sequence 55 seconds into the period. Max Domi struck next with a one-timer from the slot, followed by a shot from the point by Vladislav Gavrikov.
The run transformed what had been a 2-2 tie into a 5-2 advantage for the Blue Jackets. Aaron Dell entered in relief of Tokarski following the goal from Domi.
"It was odd," Sabres coach Don Granato said. "Ticker didn't look like himself. There were some simple bounces and things that happened. So, I don't know that you can explain it. It happened and you've got to respond. We worked from that point and we couldn't overcome it."

It was the third tight loss for the Sabres since a convincing win over the Edmonton Oilers at home on Nov. 12. They fell the following night to Toronto with 11 seconds remaining and lost at New York on Sunday with less than a second to play in regulation.
This latest defeat came in spite of a hard push to come back, ignited when Cozens delivered a shot top-shelf on the rush just 1:14 after Gavrikov punctuated the Blue Jackets' three-goal barrage. Tage Thompson scored his second goal of the contest later in the period to cut the deficit to 5-4.
It was an encouraging sight for Granato, who has said from the outset that he will prioritize improvement by putting young players such as Cozens and Thompson in high-leverage situations and encouraging them to play without the fear of mistakes.
"We need to play hard, we need to play an exciting game and it's the only way we're going to get better," Granato said. "We need to get better. We need to progress, we need to push. Very happy that not only do they push, but they're starting to feel the progress.
"They're starting to feel themselves get better and better and playing with that type of confidence where even if there's a mistake, they feel they can overcome it. That's really important."
Cozens was a walking - er, skating - example of that mindset on Monday. Domi placed the puck between Cozens' legs on his way to setting up Jack Roslovic's second goal of the first period, which gave the Blue Jackets a 2-1 lead. He channeled that moment into his own goal later in the contest.
Likewise, it was the three minutes in which the Sabres fell short that stood at the forefront of Cozens' mind postgame - mistakes they could not overcome Monday, but will strive to do so in the big picture.

"The start to the second there is unacceptable," Cozens said. "We can't allow that to happen, the team to gain momentum like that that quickly. I think we started out really well in the first and we've just got to find a way to not let that happen. We've got to find a way to play a full 60."

Thompson stays hot

Thompson recorded the first multi-goal outing of his career. He now has eight goals this season, matching the career high he set in 38 contests in 2020-21.
He pounced on a pass in the crease set up by Victor Olofsson for his first goal, which opened the scoring during the first period. He buried a rocket of a one-time shot on the power play as an encore.

The 24-year-old said he's the most confident he's ever been in his young career. Granato believes we have only seen the tip of the iceberg.
"I think Tage has reached a spot where he's exciting to watch and he can keep you on the edge of your seat because he's capable right now," Granato said. "But as far as the potential, I don't think we're seeing anything close to what he's going to become. We just need to keep getting him in situations, his confidence will grow and grow.
"He's starting to learn how valuable his size his strength is. He's starting to realize how strong he is holding 6-foot-4 defensemen off until he can make a play, which you just don't find many guys in the league that can do that. He's starting to do that and I think when he does it enough he's going to realize how powerful that is and really take advantage of it.
"So it is a long way. There's a lot of potential there, but it's fun to see it."

Zemgus, at the buzzer

Zemgus Girgensons tipped a Colin Miller shot on the power play with 0.4 seconds left to play in the first period - the exact amount of time left when Ryan Lindgren scored the winning goal for the Rangers on Sunday.

The Sabres are now 3-for-6 on the power play over their last two games.

Jokiharju returns

Henri Jokiharju returned from a 16-game absence dating back to opening night, when the defenseman took a shot off his ankle during a win over Montreal. Jokiharju skated 15:48 and tallied an assist.

Up next

Buffalo's stretch of five games in seven days continues against Boston on Wednesday. Coverage on MSG begins at 6:30 p.m. The puck drops at 7.