By Joe Coopersmith

GAME AT A GLANCE

THREE STARS
1^st – K. Marchenko, CBJ (1-1-2); 2^nd – M. Olivier, CBJ (1-1-2); 3^rd – D. Severson, CBJ (1-0-1)

GOAL SCORERS
Columbus: PPG – Y. Chinakhov (2), K. Marchenko (2), A. Fantilli (2), M. Olivier (1), Z. Aston-Reese (1), D. Severson (1)

Buffalo: R. McLeod (2), J. Kulich (1), O. Power (2), J. Peterka (3)

GOALTENDERS
Columbus: D. Tarasov (20 saves, W)
Buffalo: D. Levi (19 saves, L)

SPECIAL TEAMS
Columbus PP:  1-for-3, 5 shots
Buffalo PP:  0-for-2, 5 shots

THREE STARS OF GAME

BLUE JACKETS TEAM NOTES

• Columbus collected its first home win of the season tonight with the 6-4 win over Buffalo.
• CBJ had six different goal scorers in tonight’s win with three (Aston-Reese, Olivier, and Severson) notching their firsts of the campaign.
• The Blue Jackets have scored a franchise-high 17 goals through the first four games of the season, surpassing 14 goals recorded in the 2018-19 and 2021-22 campaigns.
• CBJ scored two goals in each period of tonight’s win.  The club has now scored in 10-of-12 periods this season with six multi-goal frames.
• Columbus led Buffalo 9-to-4 in shots on goal in the first period while also holding the Sabres to none for 10:53 into the game.  CBJ outshot BUF 25-to-24 for the game.
• CBJ improved to 25-15-4 against the Sabres all-time and 7-4-0 in the last 11 at Nationwide Arena.
• The Blue Jackets scored a power play goal for the third time this season and are 3-of-11 on the man advantage in 2024-25 (27.3 pct.).

BLUE JACKETS PLAYER NOTES

• RW Yegor Chinakhov (goal; 2-4-6), F Kent Johnson (assist; 2-3-5), and D Damon Severson (goal; 1-3-4) have recorded points in all four CBJ games this season.  It’s the second time in club history that multiple teammates have recorded points in the first four games of a campaign (Cam Atkinson, Nick Foligno & Ryan Johansen in 2014-15).
• LW Zach Aston-Reese scored his first goal as a Blue Jacket 15 seconds into the third period.  It was tied for the fourth-fastest goal scored in the third period and tied for the 12^th-fastest in a single period in CBJ history.
• RW Yegor Chinakhov notched his first PPG of the season and second overall this year, giving him a team-leading six points in 2024-25 (2-4-6).
• D Jake Christiansen recorded his first multi-point game of his NHL career after notching assists on Olivier’s and Aston-Reese’s goals (0-2-2).
• C Adam Fantilli (goal) has now recorded goals in all three career games against the Sabres (3-1-4).
• RW Kirill Marchenko notched his first multi-point game of the season with 1-1-2 and has now collected 2-3-5 in four outings.  He has recorded 4-2-6 in 7 career games against Buffalo.
• RW Mathieu Olivier registered his third career multi-point outing (MR: 0-2-2 on Apr. 16, 2024 vs. CAR) with 1-1-2.
• C Cole Sillinger has recorded points in three consecutive games (1-2-3) after registering an assist on Olivier’s goal.
• D Damon Severson scored his first goal of the season and now has points in all four games this season.  It’s the second time in his career he’s posted points in the first four games to start the season (0-4-4 in 4 GP from Oct. 6-16, 2018 with New Jersey).
• D Zach Werenski collected two assists tonight, giving him his first multi-point game of the season and 2-2-4 in four games overall.

BLUE JACKETS POST-GAME AUDIO INTERVIEWS

HC Dean Evason | F Kirill Marchenko | D Damon Severson | F Cole Sillinger

PANTHERS POST-GAME AUDIO INTERVIEWS

D Rasmus Dahlin | F Jiri Kulich | F Alex Tuch

BLUE JACKETS UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Friday, Oct. 18  Practice – 11 am ET at Nationwide Arena

Saturday, Oct. 19           vs. Minnesota Wild – 7pm at Nationwide Arena

Sunday, Oct. 20              Off

Monday, Oct. 21             Practice – 10:30 am ET at Nationwide Arena

COURTESY BLUE JACKETS COMMUNICATIONS