Blue Jackets vs Sabres Game Overview
CLB vs BUFRecords
Head-To-HeadLast 10
Win / Loss
5-5 Even
Over / Under
5-4-1
| Date | Home | Result | ML | O/U | HSOG | ASOG | HPP | APP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10, '25 | CLB |
3 - 2
|
CLB -130 | u6.5 | 30 | 41 | 1-1 | 0-1 |
| Feb 04, '25 | BUF |
3 - 2
|
BUF -166 | u6.0 | 21 | 29 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Oct 17, '24 | CLB |
6 - 4
|
CLB +127 | o6.5 | 25 | 24 | 1-3 | 0-2 |
| Feb 23, '24 | CLB |
2 - 1
|
BUF -157 | u6.5 | 26 | 37 | 1-3 | 0-4 |
| Dec 30, '23 | BUF |
3 - 2 (OT)
|
BUF -210 | u7.0 | 42 | 20 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Dec 19, '23 | BUF |
9 - 4
|
CLB +166 | o7.0 | 29 | 34 | 1-3 | 1-2 |
| Apr 14, '23 | CLB |
5 - 2
|
BUF -179 | P7.0 | 31 | 35 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Feb 28, '23 | BUF |
5 - 3
|
CLB +185 | o6.5 | 41 | 36 | 1-3 | 1-1 |
| Dec 07, '22 | CLB |
9 - 4
|
BUF -159 | o6.5 | 24 | 30 | 0-2 | 3-5 |
| Feb 20, '22 | CLB |
7 - 3
|
CLB -163 | o6.5 | 39 | 36 | 0-2 | 0-1 |
CLB vs BUF Preview
Last Meeting ( Sep 23, 2025 ) Columbus 1, Buffalo 2
The Columbus Blue Jackets bid to win their fourth straight road game on Tuesday when they visit the Buffalo Sabres.
The Blue Jackets continued to feel at home on the road with a 5-4 shootout victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. They are 3-1-0 away from Columbus this season after posting a 14-23-4 record on the road in 2024-25.
The Blue Jackets finished two points out of a wild-card spot last season.
A winner in three of its last four games overall, Columbus also showed resolve after dropping a 5-1 decision against the Washington Capitals on Friday. That was the first of 15 sets of back-to-back games for the Blue Jackets this season.
"Look, we want to be a team that's hard to play against on the road or at home. We're not going to change the way we play," Columbus captain Boone Jenner said. "Back-to-back or not, we have lots of energy. You saw it (on Saturday). I don't think playing (Friday) night affected us at all. We just wanted to come out with a good effort, and I think we did that."
Dmitri Voronkov scored two goals on Saturday to extend his point streak to four games (three goals, two assists). He has recorded at least a point in seven of eight games this season and shares the team lead in both goals (five) and assists (four).
Yegor Chinakhov and Charlie Coyle added their first goals of the season on Saturday.
"I like scoring," Chinakhov said. "It feels great. I love the hockey, so I just try to be better every day."
Elvis Merzlikins made 26 saves to improve to 3-0-0 on the road this season.
Jet Greaves, however, is in line to get the start if head coach Dean Evason adheres to his pattern of alternating between his netminders.
"They've both been fantastic, just getting prepared," Evason said, per The Athletic. "If they get asked to stop pucks that night and help the team win, they've both done it."
The Sabres have rebounded from losing their first three games of the season to collect at least a point in five of their last six contests (4-1-1).
Tage Thompson followed up his goal in Friday's 5-3 victory over the Maple Leafs at home by scoring twice in Saturday's 4-3 overtime setback in Toronto.
"I liked our game, and I think we've got to continue to do the things that are getting us to this point," Thompson said. "Obviously, you want the two points, but overall, we can be really happy with our effort in the last two games."
Thompson is tied for the team lead in both goals (four) and points (eight) for Buffalo, which carries a four-game home winning streak into the encounter with Columbus.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen turned aside 18 shots in his season debut after missing the first eight games with a lower-body injury. He might get the call again with rookie goaltender Colten Ellis nursing a back injury.
--Field Level Media
CLB vs BUFInjury report
Columbus's Injuries
| Player | POS | Status | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Fabbro | D | Day To Day - Lower-Body( Jan 30, '26) | Jan 30, '26 | |
| Fabbro did not play in Friday's (Jan. 30) game versus the Blackhawks. | ||||
| B. Smith | D | Out - Leg( Jan 07, '26) | Jan 07, '26 | |
| The Columbus Blue Jackets said on Thursday (Jan. 8) that Smith underwent successful surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee and is expected to make a full recovery in 3-4 months. | ||||
Buffalo's Injuries
| Player | POS | Status | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Greenway | LW | Day To Day - Lower-body( Jan 29, '26) | Jan 29, '26 | |
| Greenway did not play in Thursday's (Jan. 29) game versus the Kings. | ||||
| U. Luukkonen | G | Out - Lower Body( Jan 28, '26) | Jan 28, '26 | |
| The Sabres said on Thursday (Jan. 29) that Luukkonen is expected to miss about a week, according to head coach Lindy Ruff, per Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550. | ||||
| J. Norris | C | Day To Day - Ribs( Jan 27, '26) | Jan 27, '26 | |
| The Sabres said on Wednesday (Jan. 28) that Norris is day-to-day by head coach Lindy Ruff, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports Monday, but won't play this week, per Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550. | ||||
| J. Danforth | RW | Out - Lower Body( Jan 25, '26) | Jan 25, '26 | |
| The Buffalo Sabres said on Monday (Jan. 26) that Danforth is trending toward a post-Olympic return to action, per Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald. | ||||
| J. Bryson | D | Out - Upper-body( Jan 22, '26) | Jan 22, '26 | |
| The Sabres placed D Jacob Bryson on injured reserve on Friday (Jan. 23). | ||||
| J. Dunne | C | Out - Middle-body( Jan 14, '26) | Jan 14, '26 | |
| The Buffalo Sabres placed F Josh Dunne on injured reserve on Thursday (Jan. 15) | ||||
| C. Timmins | D | Out - Leg( Dec 19, '25) | Dec 19, '25 | |
| The Buffalo Sabres placed D Conor Timmins on Injured Reserve on Saturday (Dec. 20). | ||||
| J. Kulich | C | Out - Ear( Nov 09, '25) | Nov 09, '25 | |
| The Sabres said on Monday (Nov. 10) that Kulich is slated to miss significant time due to a blood clot issue. | ||||
GoaltendersLast 5
W/L
3-2-0-0
GAA
3.00
Save %
.898
| Date | Score | W/L | GA | SA | SV% | SO | ML | O/U | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E.Merzlikins | Oct 25, 2025 | PIT 4 - CLB 5 (SO) | W | 4 | 31 | .871 | - | W +102 | o6.5 |
| J.Greaves | Oct 24, 2025 | CLB 1 - WAS 5 | L | 5 | 30 | .833 | - | L -105 | u6.5 |
| E.Merzlikins | Oct 21, 2025 | DAL 1 - CLB 5 | W | 1 | 23 | .957 | - | W +150 | u6.5 |
| J.Greaves | Oct 18, 2025 | CLB 3 - TB 2 | W | 2 | 24 | .917 | - | W -128 | u6.5 |
| E.Merzlikins | Oct 16, 2025 | CLB 1 - COL 4 | L | 3 | 35 | .914 | - | L +138 | u6.5 |
W/L
3-1-1-0
GAA
2.40
Save %
.915
| Date | Score | W/L | GA | SA | SV% | SO | ML | O/U | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.Luukkonen | Oct 25, 2025 | TOR 4 - BUF 3 (OT) | - | 4 | 23 | .826 | - | L +112 | o6.5 |
| A.Lyon | Oct 24, 2025 | BUF 5 - TOR 3 | W | 3 | 34 | .912 | - | W +105 | o6.5 |
| C.Ellis | Oct 22, 2025 | BUF 4 - DET 2 | W | 2 | 31 | .935 | - | W -122 | u6.5 |
| A.Lyon | Oct 20, 2025 | MON 4 - BUF 2 | L | 3 | 31 | .903 | - | L +122 | u6.5 |
| A.Lyon | Oct 18, 2025 | BUF 3 - FLA 0 | W | 0 | 32 | 1.00 | - | W +128 | u5.5 |
CLB vs BUFStats
Offense vs Defense
Goals
| OFFENSE |
Stat | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|
| 3.12 | Total | 3.00 |
| 0.75 | 1st Period | 0.89 |
| 0.75 | 2nd Period | 0.78 |
| 1.50 | 3rd Period | 1.22 |
| 0.00 | OT | 0.11 |
Shots
| OFFENSE |
Stat | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|
| 32.88 | Total | 32.22 |
| 12.50 | 1st Period | 10.78 |
| 9.75 | 2nd Period | 10.00 |
| 10.25 | 3rd Period | 11.33 |
| 0.38 | OT | 0.11 |
Shot Pct vs. Save Pct
| SHOOTING |
Stat | SAVE PCT. |
|---|---|---|
| 0.10 | Total | 0.91 |
| 0.06 | 1st Period | 0.92 |
| 0.08 | 2nd Period | 0.92 |
| 0.15 | 3rd Period | 0.89 |
| 0.00 | OT | 0.00 |
Power Play vs Penalty Kill
| POWERPLAY |
Stat | PENALTY KILL |
|---|---|---|
| 3 - 20 | G/Att vs. GA/Att | 2 - 33 |
| 15.00 | PP % vs. PK % | 93.94 |
Goaltenders
| Columbus Goaltenders |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | S | SV | SV% | WL | ||
| Jet Greaves | 113 | 102 | 0.903 | 1-3-0 | ||
| Elvis Merzlikins | 141 | 129 | 0.915 | 3-1-0 | ||