The Blue Jackets head into Buffalo with a chance to make it three straight, and they’ve earned the right to feel a little better about themselves.
Columbus has won two in a row and four of its last six overall, a stretch that has pushed the points total in the right direction. More importantly, the Jackets have looked like a team that’s starting to trust what Rick Bowness and his staff have put in place. Even in the two losses during this run, they’ve been competitive and far more resilient than the group that used to fold when pressure hit.
That’s the biggest shift here: Columbus is no longer just hanging on and hoping. The Blue Jackets have been weathering momentum swings, staying inside the structure, and letting the results follow. Cam Talbot put it plainly: they can “hang with anybody”.
Buffalo, meanwhile, comes in as a team that has been all over the map. The Sabres dropped their last game 2-1 to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night. Before that, they had rattled off three wins after a three-game losing streak, which is about as streaky as it gets.
One of the clearest edges for Columbus tonight sits right down the middle. With Adam Fantilli, Charlie Coyle, and Sean Monahan at center, the Jackets can make life miserable for Buffalo in the faceoff circle and beyond it.
Before getting handled by the Stars last night, Columbus had been the NHL’s No. 2 team at the dot; now it sits seventh at 53.3 percent. Buffalo is 30th at 45.2 percent.
But this isn’t just about draws. Columbus has size, speed, skill, and responsibility down the middle, and if those centers play to form, the Jackets should be able to control the middle of the ice in all three zones. Keeping Buffalo to the outside looks like the cleanest path to success, especially with the Sabres carrying more of their danger on the wings than through the center lane.
The Blue Jackets also made some roster moves that could give the bottom six a jolt. Late last night, the club announced the recall of forwards Steven Lorentz and Jack Williams after sending Emil Andrae and Danton Heinen to the Cleveland Monsters earlier in the day.
It’s still unclear whether either player will dress tonight, but the timing suggests Columbus is looking for a spark. Lorentz, who came over as part of the Matthew Knies trade, opened the season on fire in Cleveland with 7 goals and 9 points in 9 games. At 6-foot-4 and nearly 220 pounds, the 30-year-old has worked under Don Waddell before and brings a physical, energetic presence when he gets in.
Williams offers a different kind of look. He stood out at CBJ training camp this fall and nearly cracked the opening-night roster, but salary cap and roster structure issues kept him down in the AHL for the start of the year.
So far with the Monsters, he has 5 points, including 1 goal, in 7 games. As a right-shot center, he adds speed and skill to the bottom six.
Per Rick Bowness, Jet Greaves starts vs Buffalo tonight. Some gametime decisions, so no indication if Steven Lorentz or Jack Williams will play yet.
Check back at warmups. #CBJ
For Columbus, the formula is straightforward: keep playing CBJ hockey. That means staying disciplined, making smart passes, clogging lanes, and working as a five-man unit in all three zones.
The Jackets have been at their best when they don’t try to force the issue or do too much with the puck. If they keep their legs moving for 60 minutes, they’ll give themselves a real shot.
This is the second meeting between these teams this season. Columbus won the first one, 5-3, on opening night. Puck drop is set for 7:00 Eastern from Buffalo.
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