McGinn, Lehner lead Sabres to 4-0 win over Blue Jackets

Despite his team getting the victory on Friday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner wasn’t too happy with everything that transpired on the ice during the game. Columbus had a strong push in the first period, was outplayed in the second period and couldn’t get anything going in the third, and it added up to a disappointing result in a game where they certainly had chances. He also earned his own highlight during a third-period scrum, when he tried to fight Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson.

Columbus fans may recall this isn’t the first dubious goal Korpisalo has allowed this season.

“They were more tenacious on the puck, especially offensively”, coach John Tortorella said.

About the only thing you need to know is that those were some pretty dumb penalties that managed to keep Columbus hanging in there until Jamie McGinn scored his second of the game at the 7:16 mark and rookie Sam Reinhart pretty much iced the game just about mid-way through the third period as he put the Sabres up 4-0. “I’m still trying to figure them out, and I still haven’t got it all done. but it’s come along”. The NHL’s official play by play charted it as a 149-foot goal.

Handling the puck deep in the Sabres’ zone, the 35-year-old Legwand turned and cleared the puck through the air from the top of the faceoff circle toward Columbus goalie Joonas Korpisalo.

“It always has a chance if it’s on net”, Legwand.

The Blue Jackets had recorded points in their previous six games, going 4-0-2. “I think we out-chanced them”.

“It’s the first time I had a goalie get four penalty minutes and the shutout”, said Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma after the game. Korpisalo is 6-1-3 with a 2.14 goals-against average during that span, permitting two goals or fewer eight times.

Buffalo rookie forward Jack Eichel had two assists, giving him 41 points for the season.

It was just the third time this season Columbus has been shut out and the first since a 3-0 loss at Ottawa on November 19.

“I thought our power play made some good plays in the latter part of the game, but we need to score early on our power play to gain momentum and we’re not doing that”, Tortorella said.