Schedule / Matchup Preview

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview vs Sabres · FRI · JAN 8 · 6:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
FRI · JAN 8 · 6:00 PM CT
Nationwide Arena
CBJNHL · CBJHN · MSG-B
Columbus Blue Jackets
Blue Jackets
1–1–0
VS
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres
1–1–0
Upcoming
FRI · JAN 8 · 6:00 PM CT
CBJNHL · CBJHN · MSG-B
Columbus Blue Jackets
Home · Blue Jackets
1–1–0
2 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has had trouble with the Blue Jackets, a .851 save percentage on 141 shots. But Jet Greaves has not had an answer for Josh Doan: 4 goals on 13 shots.
Nationwide Arena
Buffalo Sabres
Away · Sabres
1–1–0
2 PTS
Blue Jackets
GOALIES
Sabres
Jet Greaves
Jet Greaves
Expected
.877 SV% · 3.50 GAA · 1W
.887 SV% L5 · Cooling
VS
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Expected
.784 SV% · 4.03 GAA · 1W
.847 SV% L5 · Cooling
Blue Jackets
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Sabres
L1
Matthew Knies · Adam Fantilli · Kent Johnson
L1
Josh Norris · Tage Thompson · Josh Doan
L2
Valeri Nichushkin · Sean Monahan · Conor Garland
L2
Zach Benson · Noah Ostlund · Jack Quinn
L3
Cole Sillinger · Charlie Coyle · Mathieu Olivier
L3
Peyton Krebs · Ryan McLeod · Konsta Helenius
L4
Ryan Lomberg · Danton Heinen · Dmitri Voronkov
L4
Jiri Kulich · Sam Carrick · Beck Malenstyn
D1
Zach Werenski · Denton Mateychuk
D1
Rasmus Dahlin · Mattias Samuelsson
D2
Carson Soucy · Emil Andrae
D2
Owen Power · Olen Zellweger
D3
Jake Christiansen · Erik Gudbranson
D3
Louis Crevier · Zach Metsa
PP1
Matthew Knies · Charlie Coyle · Adam Fantilli · Kent Johnson · Zach Werenski
PP1
Jack Quinn · Zach Benson · Josh Doan · Tage Thompson · Rasmus Dahlin
PP2
Conor Garland · Dmitri Voronkov · Valeri Nichushkin · Denton Mateychuk · Sean Monahan
PP2
Konsta Helenius · Ryan McLeod · Noah Ostlund · Owen Power · Josh Norris
PK1
Charlie Coyle · Sean Monahan · Zach Werenski · Denton Mateychuk
PK1
Ryan McLeod · Beck Malenstyn · Owen Power · Mattias Samuelsson
PK2
Cole Sillinger · Valeri Nichushkin · Jake Christiansen · Erik Gudbranson
PK2
Josh Norris · Zach Benson · Rasmus Dahlin · Louis Crevier
Blue JacketsProjected lines
L1
Matthew Knies · Adam Fantilli · Kent Johnson
L2
Valeri Nichushkin · Sean Monahan · Conor Garland
L3
Cole Sillinger · Charlie Coyle · Mathieu Olivier
L4
Ryan Lomberg · Danton Heinen · Dmitri Voronkov
D1
Zach Werenski · Denton Mateychuk
D2
Carson Soucy · Emil Andrae
D3
Jake Christiansen · Erik Gudbranson
PP1
Matthew Knies · Charlie Coyle · Adam Fantilli · Kent Johnson · Zach Werenski
PP2
Conor Garland · Dmitri Voronkov · Valeri Nichushkin · Denton Mateychuk · Sean Monahan
PK1
Charlie Coyle · Sean Monahan · Zach Werenski · Denton Mateychuk
PK2
Cole Sillinger · Valeri Nichushkin · Jake Christiansen · Erik Gudbranson
SabresProjected lines
L1
Josh Norris · Tage Thompson · Josh Doan
L2
Zach Benson · Noah Ostlund · Jack Quinn
L3
Peyton Krebs · Ryan McLeod · Konsta Helenius
L4
Jiri Kulich · Sam Carrick · Beck Malenstyn
D1
Rasmus Dahlin · Mattias Samuelsson
D2
Owen Power · Olen Zellweger
D3
Louis Crevier · Zach Metsa
PP1
Jack Quinn · Zach Benson · Josh Doan · Tage Thompson · Rasmus Dahlin
PP2
Konsta Helenius · Ryan McLeod · Noah Ostlund · Owen Power · Josh Norris
PK1
Ryan McLeod · Beck Malenstyn · Owen Power · Mattias Samuelsson
PK2
Josh Norris · Zach Benson · Rasmus Dahlin · Louis Crevier
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:22 AM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT
Blue Jackets
INJURY REPORT
Sabres
Alex Lyon
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 6
Conor Timmins
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 17
Topias Leinonen
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 10
Jack Rathbone
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 24
Jason Zucker
IR · Abdomen (surgery) · Expected back Oct 15
Blue JacketsInjury report
No injuries reported
SabresInjury report
Alex Lyon
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 6
Conor Timmins
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 17
Topias Leinonen
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 10
Jack Rathbone
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 24
Jason Zucker
IR · Abdomen (surgery) · Expected back Oct 15
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:22 AM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT
STORYLINE
The Blue Jackets lost their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games. The Sabres won their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games.

Matchup Intel

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has had trouble with the Blue Jackets, a .851 save percentage on 141 shots. But Jet Greaves has not had an answer for Josh Doan: 4 goals on 13 shots.

The man to watch is Zach Werenski: 6 points in his last 4 against Buffalo. It's the second meeting of the season; the Blue Jackets took the first 6-3 on Oct 1.

The numbers behind it
Goaltending
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has struggled against Columbus — a .851 save % on 141 shots.
.851 SV% vs CBJ
Matchup
Josh Doan has 4 goals on Jet Greaves (13 shots).
(Buffalo)
4 goals on Jet Greaves
Matchup
Tage Thompson has 19 shots on Jet Greaves without a goal.
(Buffalo)
0/19 vs Jet Greaves
Player
Zach Werenski has 6 points in his last 4 games against Buffalo. See the games →
(Columbus)
6 pts, last 4 vs BUF
Milestone
Miles Wood is 2 goals shy of 200 career goals.
198 career goals
Series
Second meeting of the season — Columbus took the first 6-3 on Oct 1. See the games →
1-0 series, CBJ