In Buffalo, amid much discontent in Sabres nation, Jack Eichel struck for his 31st goal of the season with 36 seconds gone in extra time to send the Sabres to a 2-1 win over the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets.
Carter Hutton got the win for the Sabres in OT – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Columbus’ six-game win streak was ended in the loss.
“It’s a big win for the group,” said Eichel, who scored for a third straight game. “I thought we hunkered down, it’s a good hockey team. Obviously, they’re fighting for points right now, too. They’re arguably one of the hotter teams in the League right now. Give them credit, I thought they played really well. It was good to see us find a way to get a win. It was a huge goal by Roddy in the first and we made some big plays when we needed to, Hutts had some huge saves and we find a way to win this.”
Carter Hutton made 22 saves in the win.
Oliver Bjorkstrand scored for Columbus in the third period to knot the game at 1-1.
“We’ll take the point and go. That’s a big point for us, coming back in the third period,” Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. “I thought we fought the puck at times.”
Evan Rodrigues scored the Sabres’ regulation goal.
“Dahls (Rasmus Dahlin) made a great play beating his forward coming out. He’s so good at that,” Rodrigues said. “And once he did that and drew their other [defenseman] to him, I just kind of found the open area in the middle of the ice and tried to shoot it as quick as possible.”
[WATCH: All Blue Jackets vs. Sabres highlights]
Matiss Kivlenieks made 22 saves in the loss.
“We just stick with it, we stay patient,” Bjorkstrand said. “I think everybody has that belief that even though we’re behind, we can bet back in the game and win it. We’ve just got to hold on to that and that’s a key point.”
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