Columbus Blue Jackets (79 pts) vs. Buffalo Sabres (76 pts) Game Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Buffalo Sabres will play the rubber match of a three-game season series on Thursday. Both teams have won a game in the series. 

All the Jackets need to do is win. Simple enough, right? 

If the CBJ win, they survive to live another day. Lose, and they’ll be eliminated from playoff contention. 

This game features two high-powered offenses. Unfortunately for each team, neither is very good at stopping pucks from going into their respective nets. 

This game should be a fun one. 

Blue Jackets Stats

• Power Play – 19.2% – 22nd in NHL
• Penalty Kill – 76% – 25th in NHL
• Goals For – 244 – 10th – 3.17 GPG – 11th
• Goals Against – 263 – 27th – 3.42 GPG – 28th

Sabres Stats

• Power Play – 18.2% – 26th in NHL
• Penalty Kill – 76.6% – 23rd in NHL
• Goals For – 252 – 7th – 3.27 GPG – 7th
• Goals Against – 267 – 29th – 3.47 GPG – 29th

Series History vs. The Sabres

• Columbus is 12-8-1 at home and 26-16-4 in 46 all-time games against the Sabres.
• The Jackets are 14-7-3 in the last 24 games vs. Buffalo. 
• The Blue Jackets are 7-4 in the last 11 at NWA. 

Who To Watch For The Sabres

• Tage Thompson leads the Sabres with 44 goals and 71 points. 
• Rasmus Dahlin leads the team with 47 assists. 
• Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is 24-23-4 with a SV% of .885. 
• James Reimer is 9-6-2 with a SV% of .910.

CBJ Player Notes vs. Sabres

• Boone Jenner has 13 points in 23 career games against Buffalo.  
• Zach Werenski has 14 points in 18 games.  
• Sean Monahan has 22 points in 23 games against the Sabres. 

Injuries

• Kevin Labanc (shoulder) is on Injured Reserve as of Feb. 21 and is out for the season (21 Games) 

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 310

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight’s game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. Steve Mears will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.

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