BUFFALO, Ny. (WGR) – Several players recorded multi-point games including Noah Ostlund who scored twice, in the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 preseason victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night at KeyBank Center.
Neither team was able to score in the opening period, despite plenty of power play chances. Buffalo had three power plays in the opening 20 minutes while Columbus did not have a chance. The Sabres had 11 shots on goal in the first period, compared to six for the Blue Jackets.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made the start in goal for Buffalo, with Colten Ellis serving as the backup. Luukkonen made six saves in the opening period for Buffalo that helped keep the game scoreless. All six shots came at even strength. He made 13 total saves in two periods before Colten Ellis took over in net for the third period.
The first goal of the night was scored midway through the second period to help the Sabres open up a one-goal lead over Columbus. Josh Norris scored his first goal of the preseason on a one-time chance from the right-wing face-off dot.
Owen Power and Konsta Helenius were credited with the assists on the game’s first goal.
Ostlund quickly doubled the Sabres lead and also extended it to three goals thanks to back-to-back scores less than 30 seconds apart. His first came off of a rebound chance after Zach Benson hit the goal post with the initial shot.
Benson would record his second assist of the game with a pass across the ice on a two-on-one opportunity that set up Ostlund’s second goal of the night.
Benson and Power each recorded two assists across the three Sabres goals scored in the second period.
Conor Timmins pinched in from the blue line and used a back hand under the bar to beat Evan Gardner for Buffalo’s fourth goal.
It was one of five early shots in the third period for Buffalo. Tage Thompson made the pass that helped create the game’s fourth goal. Thompson and Jack Quinn were credited with the assists.
Thompson added a goal of his own late in the third period after a determined individual effort.
Josh Doan and Power assisted on Thompson’s goal that made it 5-0 in favor of Buffalo.
Corson Ceulemans broke up the combined shutout bid for Luukkonen and Ellis with a goal late in the third period. His score came with just over two minutes remaining in regulation to trim the deficit to 5-1.
Goal Summary
First Period
BUF: NONE
CBJ: NONE
Second Period
BUF: 10:12 -Josh Norris (1) (Owen Power, Konsta Helenius). 11:54 -Noah Ostlund (1) (Zach Benson, Owen Power). 12:22 -Noah Ostlund (2) (Zach Benson)
CBJ: NONE
Third Period
BUF: 3:35 -Conor Timmins (1) (Tage Thompson, Jack Quinn). 14:32 -Tage Thompson (1) (Josh Doan, Owen Power)
CBJ: 16:19 -Corson Ceulemans (1) (Dmitri Voronkov, Boston Buckberger)
Three Stars of the Game
1. Noah Ostlund: BUF
2. Josh Norris: BUF
3. Conor Timmins: BUF