Dean Kukan had two goals and an assist as the Columbus Blue Jackets earned a 7-3 victory Sunday over the visiting Buffalo Sabres.
Brendan Gaunce had a goal and two assists, while Patrik Laine had two assists to extend his point streak to nine games for the Blue Jackets, who won for the fifth time in their past six games. Jean-Francois Berube made 33 saves in his first NHL start since April 6, 2018.
Mark Pysyk, Tage Thompson and Kyle Okposo scored for the Sabres, who lost their third straight. Craig Anderson made 32 saves for Buffalo.
Kukan capitalized on a rebound to give the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead at 4:47 of the first period. After Anderson made back-to-back stops, the puck bounced to Kukan driving to the slot.
Pysyk tied it 1-all at 15:05 when Victor Olofsson’s centering pass deflected off the skate of Columbus defenseman Gavin Bayreuther over to a pinching Pysyk at the right side of the net for the tap in.
Thompson put the Sabres ahead 2-1 at 17:14 of the opening period. Alex Tuch intercepted a Blue Jackets clearing attempt and fed Thompson, who fired from the top of the left circle for his 20th of the season.
The lead was short-lived as Boone Jenner capitalized on Anderson being out of position to connect on a rebound 10 seconds later to tie it 2-all.
Kukan snapped a shot from the blue line through traffic to put Columbus ahead 3-2 at 3:28 of the second period.
Laine appeared to give the home side a 4-2 lead shortly thereafter, but the Sabres challenged for offside and the goal was overturned after a video review.
Instead, it was Zach Werenski who gave the Blue Jackets a 4-2 lead at 8:16 of the middle period, taking a feed from Oliver Bjorkstrand and skating to the high slot. Laine sprung Gaunce on a breakaway to extend it to 5-2 at 17:43.
Okposo narrowed the score to 5-3 with 32 seconds left in the second period when he pounced on a loose puck at the edge of the crease.
Gustav Nyquist scored into an empty net with 36 seconds remaining to make it 6-3 and Justin Danforth added another with four seconds left for the final margin.
–Field Level Media
