Buffalo Sabres vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Buffalo Sabres 6-3 in their season opener, marking their first such victory in five years. Matthew Knies made a notable debut for Columbus, scoring two goals and providing an assist.
Why it matters
This game represents a significant statistical milestone for the Columbus franchise and highlights early-season player performance.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Matthew Knies had two goals and an assist in his Columbus debut and the Columbus 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.
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