Buffalo Sabres uses veteran lineup in 6-1 win over youthful Blue Jackets opening preseason matchup, Monday Night

By Joe Coopersmith

 

 

Game played in Buffalo, New York

Mathieu Olivier scored lone Columbus goal (courtesy IMAGN, file photo by Steve Roberts via USA Today Sports)

 

*Defenseman Jack Jackson played in his first game for the Blue Jackets since 2018.

*Adam Fantilli played for the first time since he suffered a season-ending injury last January.

*Mathieu Olivier scored the lone goal for the Blue Jackets in the first period.

*Buffalo used an NHL veteran laden  lineup than the Blue and showed all night.

*Goalie Jet Greaves finished with 12 saves on 15 shots against.

*The Sabres finished with a 29-26 edge in shots on goal.

*Columbus was 0-2 on the power play while the Sabres scored on one of theirs going 1-for 4.

*Defenseman Jordan Harris led the Blue Jackets in time on ice.

*New Jackets head coach Dean Evason evaluates his team’s first pre-season game: “They obviously had a very strong lineup. I thought there were spurts in that game that we were real good. We limit them to not a lot of chances early. Obviously it got away from us in the third period, but we competed hard. … We got a lot of positive signs. Obviously the score isn’t what we were looking for, but the experience is.”

*Game is coming up! The Blue Jackets will host their first home preseason game of the year Wednesday, welcoming St. Louis to Nationwide Arena at 7 p.m.

 

 

BY STAFF REPORTS FROM TWITTER, FACEBOOK, RADIO, TV AND COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS NEWS