Columbus Blue Jackets @ Buffalo Sabres

12-18-8, 4-8-5 Away

Final/OT

	1	2	3	OT	T
Blue Jackets CBJ	1	1	0	0	2
Sabres BUF	0	1	1	1	3

Buffalo SabresSabresBUF

15-18-4, 8-9-1 Home

Jeff Skinner scores in overtime as Sabres beat Blue Jackets without coach Don Granato

— Jeff Skinner scored 1:20 into overtime, and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Saturday without coach Don Granato because of an illness.

Dec 31, 2023, 02:02 am - AP

		1	2	3	OT	T
	Blue Jackets	1	1	0	0	2
	Sabres	0	1	1	1	3

1st Period			CBJ	BUF
19:47		Damon Severson (4) Assists: Dmitri Voronkov (12), Egor Chinakhov (7)	1	0

2nd Period			CBJ	BUF
0:40		Jack Quinn (3) Assists: Dylan Cozens (14), Owen Power (13)	1	1
13:45		Adam Fantilli (11) Assists: Justin Danforth (9), Cole Sillinger (10)	2	1

3rd Period			CBJ	BUF
11:52		Casey Mittelstadt (10) Assists: Zach Benson (10), Mattias Samuelsson (4)	2	2

OT Summary			CBJ	BUF
1:20		Jeff Skinner (15) Assists: Owen Power (14), Tage Thompson (11)	2	3

Tage Thompson faceoff won against Justin Danforth
Eric Robinson Snap Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Rasmus Dahlin hit Yegor Chinakhov
Takeaway by Jeff Skinner
Alex Tuch Backhand saved by Daniil Tarasov
Connor Clifton Wrist Shot Wide Right
Jeff Skinner Wrist Shot Wide Right
Tage Thompson hit Jake Christiansen
Zach Benson hit Justin Danforth
Kyle Okposo faceoff won against Cole Sillinger
Jack Quinn Snap Shot Hit Right Post
Dylan Cozens Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Giveaway by Jack Quinn
Takeaway by Zach Benson
Peyton Krebs faceoff won against Brendan Gaunce
Giveaway by Peyton Krebs
Jeff Skinner Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Alex Tuch faceoff won against Cole Sillinger
Dylan Cozens faceoff won against Adam Fantilli
JJ Peterka Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Peyton Krebs hit Alexandre Texier
Casey Mittelstadt faceoff won against Dmitri Voronkov
Casey Mittelstadt Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Rasmus Dahlin Wrist Shot Above Crossbar
Rasmus Dahlin Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Tage Thompson Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Alex Tuch Wrist Shot Hit Left Post
Jeff Skinner Tip-In saved by Daniil Tarasov
Takeaway by Jack Quinn
Takeaway by Jordan Greenway
Dylan Cozens faceoff won against Kirill Marchenko
Dylan Cozens faceoff won against Adam Fantilli
Jack Roslovic shot blocked by Casey Mittelstadt
Takeaway by Alex Tuch
Tage Thompson Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Dylan Cozens faceoff won against Cole Sillinger
JJ Peterka Wrist Shot Wide Left
Dylan Cozens Tip-In saved by Daniil Tarasov
Dylan Cozens Backhand saved by Daniil Tarasov
Tage Thompson Snap Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Dylan Cozens hit Ivan Provorov
Owen Power Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Dylan Cozens Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Jack Quinn Goal (3) Wrist Shot, assists: Dylan Cozens (14), Owen Power (13)
Henri Jokiharju Slap Shot Above Crossbar
Takeaway by Casey Mittelstadt
Connor Clifton Snap Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Kyle Okposo Wrist Shot Wide Left
Dylan Cozens faceoff won against Dmitri Voronkov
JJ Peterka Snap Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Tage Thompson faceoff won against Justin Danforth
Owen Power Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Casey Mittelstadt faceoff won against Cole Sillinger
Giveaway by Casey Mittelstadt
Eric Robinson Tip-In Wide Left
Takeaway by Ryan Johnson
Dylan Cozens faceoff won against Yegor Chinakhov
Giveaway by Jack Quinn
Dylan Cozens faceoff won against Justin Danforth
Tage Thompson Snap Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Jeff Skinner faceoff won against Cole Sillinger
Kent Johnson shot blocked by Owen Power
Dylan Cozens faceoff won against Kirill Marchenko
Dylan Cozens Tip-In saved by Daniil Tarasov
Jeff Skinner Slap Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Dylan Cozens faceoff won against Jack Roslovic
Rasmus Dahlin hit Jack Roslovic
Peyton Krebs Boarding against Kirill Marchenko
Mattias Samuelsson hit Kirill Marchenko
Takeaway by Jack Quinn
Connor Clifton hit Emil Bemstrom
Takeaway by Dylan Cozens
Owen Power Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Giveaway by JJ Peterka
Jack Quinn Snap Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Dylan Cozens faceoff won against Emil Bemstrom
Jordan Greenway Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
JJ Peterka Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Owen Power Backhand saved by Daniil Tarasov
Jordan Greenway Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Eric Robinson hit Erik Gudbranson
Tage Thompson faceoff won against Justin Danforth
Tage Thompson faceoff won against Adam Fantilli
Rasmus Dahlin Slap Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Casey Mittelstadt faceoff won against Cole Sillinger
Casey Mittelstadt Deflected saved by Daniil Tarasov
Zach Benson Deflected saved by Daniil Tarasov
Kyle Okposo faceoff won against Brendan Gaunce
Peyton Krebs shot blocked by Eric Robinson
Owen Power Wrist Shot Wide Left
Mattias Samuelsson Snap Shot Wide Right
Erik Gudbranson shot blocked by Dylan Cozens
Jeff Skinner Wrist Shot Wide Left
Jeff Skinner faceoff won against Justin Danforth
Henri Jokiharju Wrist Shot Wide Left
Henri Jokiharju Slap Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Tage Thompson Slap Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Takeaway by Zach Benson
Jack Quinn Wrist Shot Wide Left
Adam Fantilli shot blocked by Mattias Samuelsson
Casey Mittelstadt Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Jordan Greenway hit Ivan Provorov
Casey Mittelstadt Goal (10) Wrist Shot, assists: Zach Benson (10), Mattias Samuelsson (4)
Jeff Skinner faceoff won against Justin Danforth
Jeff Skinner Snap Shot Off Crossbar
Alex Tuch hit Adam Fantilli
Jeff Skinner Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Ivan Provorov shot blocked by Zach Benson
Takeaway by Eric Robinson
Jeff Skinner faceoff won against Brendan Gaunce
Rasmus Dahlin Slap Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Giveaway by Alex Tuch
Dylan Cozens Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Yegor Chinakhov shot blocked by Owen Power
Jeff Skinner Wrist Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Jeff Skinner Deflected saved by Daniil Tarasov
Dylan Cozens faceoff won against Brendan Gaunce
Tage Thompson Snap Shot saved by Daniil Tarasov
Jeff Skinner Goal (15) Slap Shot, assists: Owen Power (14), Tage Thompson (11)
Takeaway by Yegor Chinakhov
Puck Frozen - Goalie
Casey Mittelstadt shot blocked by Jake Bean
Eric Robinson shot blocked by Jake Bean
Jake Bean hit Eric Robinson
Takeaway by Alexandre Texier
Alexandre Texier Deflected Wide Right
Alexandre Texier hit Owen Power
Yegor Chinakhov Wrist Shot saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Takeaway by Yegor Chinakhov
Dmitri Voronkov hit Mattias Samuelsson
Brendan Gaunce hit Alex Tuch
David Jiricek hit Zach Benson
Icing
Off-side
Emil Bemstrom faceoff won against Tage Thompson
Ivan Provorov Wrist Shot saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Mattias Samuelsson shot blocked by Yegor Chinakhov
Icing
Justin Danforth faceoff won against Kyle Okposo
Off-side
Jack Roslovic Wrist Shot Wide Right
Brendan Gaunce Snap Shot saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Yegor Chinakhov Wrist Shot saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Erik Gudbranson Slap Shot saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Goalie Stopped
Jack Roslovic hit Mattias Samuelsson
Icing
Puck in Netting
Jack Roslovic faceoff won against Peyton Krebs
Connor Clifton shot blocked by Brendan Gaunce
Puck in Netting
Rasmus Dahlin shot blocked by Dmitri Voronkov
Zach Benson shot blocked by Erik Gudbranson
Off-side
Icing
Puck in Benches
Brendan Gaunce faceoff won against Casey Mittelstadt
Justin Danforth hit Owen Power
Erik Gudbranson hit Alex Tuch
Goalie Stopped
Goalie Stopped
Dmitri Voronkov faceoff won against Casey Mittelstadt
Damon Severson Wrist Shot saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Damon Severson shot blocked by Dmitri Voronkov
Damon Severson Goal (4) Snap Shot, assists: Dmitri Voronkov (12), Yegor Chinakhov (7)
Rasmus Dahlin shot blocked by Dmitri Voronkov
Dylan Cozens shot blocked by Damon Severson
Giveaway by Damon Severson
Off-side
Justin Danforth faceoff won against Tage Thompson
Johnny Gaudreau Wrist Shot saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Adam Fantilli Snap Shot Wide Right
Jake Bean Snap Shot saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Brendan Gaunce Tip-In Wide Left
Off-side
Goalie Stopped
Goalie Stopped
Justin Danforth faceoff won against Jeff Skinner
Tage Thompson shot blocked by Justin Danforth
Justin Danforth hit Henri Jokiharju
Alex Tuch shot blocked by Damon Severson
Puck in Netting
Brendan Gaunce hit Rasmus Dahlin
On-Ice Official
Icing
Justin Danforth Tip-In saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
High Stick
Justin Danforth faceoff won against Tage Thompson
Goalie Stopped
High Stick
Puck in Benches
Dmitri Voronkov faceoff won against Dylan Cozens
Adam Fantilli Hooking against Dylan Cozens
Justin Danforth faceoff won against Casey Mittelstadt
Justin Danforth Wrist Shot saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Goalie Stopped
Takeaway by Cole Sillinger
Adam Fantilli Goal (11) Wrist Shot, assists: Justin Danforth (9), Cole Sillinger (10)
On-Ice Official
Dmitri Voronkov faceoff won against Dylan Cozens
Ivan Provorov Wrist Shot Hit Left Post
Kirill Marchenko Wrist Shot Wide Right
David Jiricek Slap Shot saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Jeff Skinner shot blocked by David Jiricek
Jeff Skinner shot blocked by Jake Bean
Puck Frozen - Goalie
Rasmus Dahlin shot blocked by Erik Gudbranson
Mattias Samuelsson shot blocked by Erik Gudbranson
Icing
Justin Danforth faceoff won against Casey Mittelstadt
Takeaway by Kent Johnson
JJ Peterka shot blocked by David Jiricek
Dmitri Voronkov Tip-In saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ivan Provorov Wrist Shot saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Dmitri Voronkov Wrist Shot saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Icing
Icing
Goalie Stopped
Cole Sillinger Wrist Shot saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
David Jiricek Snap Shot saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Goalie Stopped
Off-side
Dmitri Voronkov faceoff won against Dylan Cozens
Giveaway by Johnny Gaudreau
Goalie Stopped
Goalie Stopped
Brendan Gaunce faceoff won against Tage Thompson
Brendan Gaunce Tip-In saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Brendan Gaunce Wrist Shot Wide Left
Brendan Gaunce hit Owen Power
Jeff Skinner shot blocked by Ivan Provorov
High Stick
Kent Johnson faceoff won against Casey Mittelstadt
Kirill Marchenko hit Dylan Cozens
Rasmus Dahlin shot blocked by Jake Christiansen
Puck in Benches
Dmitri Voronkov faceoff won against Casey Mittelstadt
Yegor Chinakhov hit Casey Mittelstadt
Goalie Stopped
Brendan Gaunce faceoff won against Casey Mittelstadt
Jordan Greenway shot blocked by Ivan Provorov
Icing
Dylan Cozens shot blocked by Jake Christiansen
Puck in Netting
Cole Sillinger faceoff won against Dylan Cozens
Jack Quinn shot blocked by Jake Christiansen
Jake Christiansen hit Jack Quinn
Kirill Marchenko Snap Shot saved by Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Adam Fantilli Wrist Shot Wide Left
Icing
Tage Thompson shot blocked by Jake Christiansen
Goalie Stopped
Off-side
Justin Danforth faceoff won against Dylan Cozens
Icing
Justin Danforth faceoff won against Tage Thompson
Justin Danforth Wrist Shot Above Crossbar

BLUE JACKETS

SABRES

Regular Season Series

Series tied 1-1

Blue Jackets
9
Sabres
4

Game 1

20/12

Blue Jackets
2
Sabres
3

Game 2

30/12

Sabres
2
Blue Jackets
1

Game 3

24/2

Team	W	L	OTL	PTS
Carolina	51	22	6	108
Pittsburgh	41	22	16	98
Philadelphia	40	27	12	92
NY Islanders	43	31	5	91
Columbus	39	28	12	90
Washington	40	30	9	89
New Jersey	40	36	3	83
NY Rangers	33	37	9	75

Team	W	L	OTL	PTS
Buffalo	49	23	8	106
Montreal	47	22	10	104
Tampa Bay	48	25	6	102
Boston	43	26	10	96
Ottawa	42	27	10	94
Detroit	41	29	9	91
Florida	37	38	4	78
Toronto	32	33	14	78

NHL playoff watch: Where the races stand on zero-game Friday

The NHL calendar takes a break, so here's an update on all the races between two stacked days on the schedule.

Adrian Kempe scores twice, Kings top Canucks 4-1 to move back into Western Conference wild card spot

— Adrian Kempe had two goals, and the Los Angeles Kings moved into a playoff spot with a 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.

Vegas visits Colorado after Stone's 2-goal game

Vegas Golden Knights (36-26-17, in the Pacific Division) vs. Colorado Avalanche (52-16-10, in the Central Division)

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Columbus Blue Jackets @ Buffalo Sabres

Stars of the Game

Jeff SkinnerLW - BUF

Casey MittelstadtC - BUF

Jack QuinnRW - BUF

Game Information

Jeff Skinner scores in overtime as Sabres beat Blue Jackets without coach Don Granato

Shot Chart

Regular Season Series

Series tied 1-1

2025-26 Metropolitan Division Standings

2025-26 Atlantic Division Standings

NHL News

NHL playoff watch: Where the races stand on zero-game Friday

Adrian Kempe scores twice, Kings top Canucks 4-1 to move back into Western Conference wild card spot

Vegas visits Colorado after Stone's 2-goal game