10/01/26 09:07:00
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10/01 21:06 CDT Knies has 2 goals and an assist in Columbus debut as Blue
Jackets beat Sabres 6-3
Knies has 2 goals and an assist in Columbus debut as Blue Jackets beat Sabres
6-3
By NICOLE KRAFT
Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) --- Matthew Knies had two goals and an assist in his
Columbus debut and the Blue Jackets beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-3 on Thursday
night for their first season-opening victory in five years.
Cole Sillinger, Adam Fantilli, Sean Monahan and Mathieu Olivier also scored,
and Charlie Coyle added three assists. Reigning Norris Trophy winner Zach
Werenski had two assists, and Jet Greaves stopped 23 shots.
Knies, acquired from Toronto on Monday, became the first Columbus player to
score twice in his Blue Jackets debut. The three points tied the franchise
record for a debut set by Artemi Panarin, who had three assists in 2017.
Mattias Samuelsson, Jack Quinn and Konsta Helenius scored for Buffalo, and Noah
Ostlund and Owen Power each had two assists. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 16
shots.
Samuelsson, back after suffering a lower-body injury in the preseason, gave the
Sabres the lead at 7:21 of the first period while the teams were skating 4 on
4. Sillinger tied it with 7:09 to go in the period, burying Coyle's drop pass
in front of the net.
Knies scored his first Blue Jackets goal on the power play with 2:02 left, then
assisted on Fantilli's goal with 1:16 to go to give Columbus a 3-1 lead.
Quinn pulled Buffalo within a goal 1:25 into the second period before Knies
restored the two-goal lead. Helenius made it 4-3, and Monahan added a
power-play goal with 5:39 to go in the third. Olivier made it 6-3 with an
empty-net goal with 2:07 remaining.
Columbus has won four straight home games against Buffalo.
Up next
Sabres: Host Chicago on Saturday night in their home opener.
Blue Jackets: Host Utah on Saturday night.
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