Blue Jackets end disappointing season with 5-2 loss to Buffalo

GAME AT A GLANCE

THREE STARS
1st –
 Casey Mittelstadt, BUF (1-1-2); 2nd – Jeff Skinner, BUF (1-2-3); 3rd – Tyler Angle, CBJ (1-0-1)

GOAL SCORERS
Columbus: 
J. Gaudreau (21), T. Angle (1)
Buffalo: 
J. Skinner (35), V. Olofsson (28), A. Tuch (36), C. Mittelstadt (15), P. Krebs (9)

GOALTENDERS
Columbus: 
J. Gillies (24 saves on 27 shots on 40:00 TOI, L); M. Hutchinson (6 saves on 8 shots on 20:00 TOI)
Buffalo: 
D. Levi (29 saves, W)


SPECIAL TEAMS

Columbus PP:  0-for-1, 2 shots
Buffalo PP:  0-for-1, no shots on goal

BLUE JACKETS TEAM NOTES

  • The Blue Jackets ended the 2022-23 campaign 25-48-9 following tonight’s loss to the Sabres.
  • Columbus completed its season series with Buffalo tonight, finishing 1-2-0.  The visiting team won each of the games in the season series.
  • The Blue Jackets fell to 7-4-0 in the last 11 home games against Buffalo dating back to Apr. 10, 2015.
  • The winning team in the series has recorded four-plus goals in seven-straight contests and 11 of the last 12 since Oct. 27, 2018.
  • With 1-1-2 tonight, the club’s rookies have now posted 42-47-89 over the last 51 games since Dec. 20 (55-65-120 in 82 games this season).
  • Tonight’s attendance was a sellout crowd of 18,786.  It was the eighth sellout in the last nine games at Nationwide Arena.
  • CBJ fell to 12-9-1 in season finales in franchise history and 6-5-1 when the game is played at Nationwide Arena.

BLUE JACKETS PLAYER NOTES

«  The Blue Jackets were led by C Tyler Angle, D Tim Berni and C Kent Johnson in shots (4) and D Billy Sweezey in hits (7), blocked shots (4) and TOI (22:52).

«  LW Johnny Gaudreau scored a goal to extend his points streak to three-straight games (2-1-3).  With 21-53-74 in 80 appearances this season, he finished with the fifth-most points by a CBJ player in a single-season in franchise history.  He improved to 9-8-17 in 16 career games vs. Buffalo, including points in eight of his nine career home contests (6-5-11). 

«  C Tyler Angle scored his first career NHL goal against Buffalo a day after making his NHL debut vs. Pittsburgh.

«  D Andrew Peeke registered his seventh assist of the season, giving him points in two-straight games (1-1-2; overall, 6-7-13 in 80 GP).

«  D Adam Boqvist tallied his 19th assist of the campaign, giving him assists in two consecutive outings (0-2-2).  He now has 2-3-5 in his last 10 contests.  With 5-19-24 in 46 games, he has set a new single-season career high in assists and points.

«  D Tim Berni registered his second assist of the season to give him 0-2-2 in his last three games (overall 1-2-3 in 59 GP).

«  D Gavin Bayreuther tallied his 12th assist of the campaign and has set single-season career highs in goals (tied), assists and points with 2-12-14 in 51 contests in 2022-23.

BLUE JACKETS POST-GAME AUDIO INTERVIEWS

HC Brad Larsen  | F Tyler Angle  | F Johnny Gaudreau  | F Sean Kuraly

SABRES POST-GAME AUDIO INTERVIEWS

HC Don Granato | F Casey Mittelstadt | F Jeff Skinner

COURTESY BLUE JACKETS COMMUNICATIONS