Sabres Finally Find the Net at Home Against Columbus
Josh Norris strikes twice, Owen Power sets up three, and Luukkonen keeps the Blue Jackets at arm's length in a 5-2 Buffalo win.
Buffalo didn't just get lucky in a 5-2 win over Columbus — the Sabres earned it by getting to the dangerous spots far more often. By expected goals, a measure of how many goals a team's chances were worth, Buffalo's looks added up to 4.64 against 2.81 for the Blue Jackets. The Sabres also outshot Columbus 37-26, so five goals was roughly what their night deserved. For a team whose home offense had gone missing, that matters.
Josh Norris scored twice, Jack Quinn, Josh Doan and Rasmus Dahlin added goals, and Owen Power set up three. Mattias Samuelsson even rang one off the post.
At the other end, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 24 of 26, turning aside five of the six best Columbus chances. Kent Johnson had a goal and an assist on five shots for the Blue Jackets, but Buffalo's power play went 0 for 4 and still didn't need it.
