Recap: Buffalo vs. Columbus
Sports Network | November 14, 2008
Buffalo, NY (Sports Network) - R.J. Umberger scored two goals as the Columbus Blue Jackets crushed the Buffalo Sabres, 6-1, at the HSBC Arena.
Rick Nash, Manny Malhotra, Michael Peca and Derick Brassard each lit the lamp for the Blue Jackets, who have won four of their last five games. Pascal Leclaire made 36 saves in the win.
Jason Pominville scored the lone goal while Patrick Lalime gave up all six goals on 23 shots for the Sabres, who have dropped three of four. Ryan Miller briefly replaced Lalime in the second period and stopped two shots.
Columbus dominated play in the first period and scored three times in the frame.
A turnover in the neutral zone resulted in the Blue Jackets having a 3-on-1 break heading into the Buffalo end. Jared Boll took the puck down the right side and, from just past the net, he threw the puck out front. There were two Columbus players who could have grabbed the puck, but Umberger wound up with it and he slammed it home at the 5:37 mark of the frame.
Less than two minutes later, the Blue Jackets again lit the lamp as Fedor Tyutin blasted a shot from the left point that a falling Peca deflected into the right corner.
With a bit over four minutes left in the first, Brassard's quick shot beat Lalime to the glove side.
Columbus scored the three goals on just six shots while Leclaire made 14 saves in the frame to keep Buffalo off the scoreboard.
The Blue Jackets made it a 4-0 game and chased Lalime from the net as the goaltender misplayed a puck near his net and Jason Chimera set up Malhotra on a one-timer at the 5:13 mark of the second.
Buffalo finally got one past Leclaire with 6:23 left in the second on a 5-on-3 power-play as Pominville slammed a shot home from the left side.
Columbus got goals from Umberger at the 5:43 mark and Nash at the 7:24 mark of the third period to complete the scoring.
Columbus plays in Minnesota on Saturday...Buffalo travels to Pittsburgh for a contest on Saturday...It was Peca's first goal in 12 games...The Blue Jackets have won three straight against Buffalo...Chimera and Mike Commodore each had two assists for the Blue Jackets...Buffalo went 1-for-8 on the power play while Columbus failed to score on either of its two chances.
