Jenner's goal lifts Blue Jackets past Sabres
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Boone Jenner's goal with 5:07 remaining in regulation lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.
After Brandon Dubinsky won the faceoff, Cam Atkinson knocked the puck from a Buffalo defender and it went to the 23-year-old, who stuffed it past Robin Lehner to give the Blue Jackets the lead for good in a back-and-forth contest.
Jenner's heroics were needed after Rasmus Ristolainen tied the game for Buffalo with 14:03 remaining in regulation.
With the win, the Blue Jackets, who went 2-for-3 on the power play, won their 43rd game of the season, tying the franchise high. Sergei Bobrovsky turned back 29 Sabres' shots to earn his league-best 36th win of the season.
The Columbus goalie had a chance to set a record, too, but saw his quest for the team's longest shutout streak end early.
Rookie center Evan Rodrigues beat Bobrovsky from the point just 2:50 into the contest after a turnover deep in the Columbus zone. However, the Sabres didn't hold the lead for long.
David Savard netted the equalizer just 3:19 later. The defenseman's fourth goal of the season came from the right point after Brandon Dubinsky won a faceoff in the Sabres end. The puck went right to Savard, who found a clear lane and blasted it past Lehner.
The Blue Jackets took the lead nearly 11 minutes later on a power play goal by Nick Foligno. Alexander Wennberg got an assist on the play, and it was the 22-year-old's hustle seconds earlier that kept the puck in the zone, allowing for the Columbus captain to get his 23rd goal of the season.
Zach Werenski also got an assist on the play, giving him 40 points on the season and setting the record for most points by a Columbus rookie.
With just three wins in their last 10 games, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said earlier in the week he wanted to see his players step it up. Despite giving up the early lead, they hung in against one of the league's top teams.
Josh Gorges got his first goal of the year with 15:04 left in the second period to tie the game. Assisted by Matt Moulson and Sam Reinhart, the 32-year-old defenseman beat Bobrovsky from the left point for just his 17th goal in a 13-year career
The Blue Jackets retook the lead with 1:32 left in the second on their second power play goal. Sam Gagner scored his third goal in four games, with Seth Jones and Jack Johnson getting the assists.
Lehner made 35 saves.
NOTES: Buffalo scratched RW Kyle Okposo and D Dmitry Kulikov. Okposo missed his fourth game due to a rib injury, while Kulikov's upper body injury forced him out for the third straight game. ...In the Sabres last nine games, they've given up three or more goals eight times. They're 1-6-2 in those games. ... Columbus scratched RW Josh Anderson, D Scott Harrington and D Ryan Murray. ... The two power-play goals marked the first time in 20 games the Blue Jackets scored multiple times with the man advantage. They went 2-for-4 in a 7-6 win at Ottawa on Jan. 22.