Blue Jackets score early, often on way to win over Buffalo

The Blue Jackets posted a 5-3 victory against Buffalo in a preseason game on Monday night at KeyBank Center in the team's fifth of eight preseason games.

CBJ Standouts

• Jakub Voracek continued to be strong on the power play, notching his second man-advantage point in as many preseason games this year when he tallied in the first period. He added a pair of assists later in the game for a three-point night.
• Emil Bemstrom notched his second goal of the preseason.
• Boone Jenner and Oliver Bjorkstrand each made it three goals in two contests apiece this preseason with tallies.

Quick Recap

Columbus needed just 3:31 to take a 1-0 lead as the Blue Jackets got an early power play and took advantage, as Voracek had time and space in the right circle and was able to beat Buffalo goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen far side. Columbus then doubled the lead at 12:49 as Bemstrom stripped Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin at the blue line, carted the puck 120 feet, shrugged off a check and lifted a backhander over Luukkonen to complete the breakaway and make it 2-0.
But Buffalo cut the CBJ lead in half with 2:48 left in the period as Casey Mittelstadt scored. Vinnie Hinostroza was open in the slot and fired wide of the right post, but Mittelstadt found the rebound and quickly roofed a shot over Joonas Korpisalo. Columbus nearly got the goal back moments later, but Luukkonen made a second great save of the period on rookie Yegor Chinakhov.
Korpisalo was solid early in the second period in his preseason debut, making big stops on Kyle Okposo and Drake Caggiula early in the frame before Columbus pulled away in the frame. Jenner made it a 3-1 game on the power play just 1:35 into the frame as Patrik Laine found Voracek streaking into the zone, and his pass to Jenner in front set him up to score past Luukkonen. Voracek happened upon a loose puck and set up a wide-open Laine to make it 4-1 at 16:12, and Bjorkstrand beat Luukkonen with a backhander at 17:24 to make it 5-1.
Luukkonen made some nice stops on Zach Werenski and Chinakhov early in the third to keep the score where it was, and Buffalo got one back 6:26 on its first shot of the frame as JJ Peterka won a race to a puck and shot it past the blocker of Daniil Tarasov. Mittelstadt got another to make it 5-3 with 8:45 to go as his sweet writer from the right circle beat Tarasov over the far blocker, but that was it as Buffalo's comeback effort fell short despite some closer calls late.

Jeff's Three Takeaways

1. Always taking the caveat that it's the preseason into account, boy it looks like this Blue Jackets power play could be good. The straw that could very well stir the drink is Voracek, who's been one of the NHL's best assist men on the power play for years and just looks like he fits into this unit with his quick decision-making and vision. Those skills seem to get the best out of everyone out there, especially with Werenski and Laine able to do their thing with more space. Early, the acquisition of Voracek seems to be a masterstroke for the Jackets.
   2. There were times the Blue Jackets were sloppy -- especially early in the second period -- but that's to be expected in the preseason. But what had to be most encouraging was seeing Columbus finish some plays with goals, especially off the sticks of guys who we know can score them (Laine, Bjorkstrand) and guys who could really help if they chip in (Bemstrom). It seems on paper that this team should be able to score some goals, and there have been some encouraging signs in the preseason.
   3. With the news that cuts came down earlier Monday, the Blue Jackets are getting down to the nitty gritty, with just a handful of players fighting for the remaining spots. Bemstrom very much helped his cause with an excellent goal and an all-around solid night with Chinahhov and Jack Roslovic, while Andrew Peeke also turned in a much-needed good showing on the blue line. Columbus has tough decisions to make, and every data point will be scrutinized here down the stretch.

Notable

The Blue Jackets improved to 3-1-1 in the preseason. … Korpisalo stopped 17 of 18 shots in his preseason debut. … Laine (1-1-2), Bjorkstarnd (1-1-2) and Werenski (0-2-2) had multipoint outings. … Bemstrom had a team-high six shots on goal. ... Gus Nyquist notched an assist on Bjorkstrand's goal in his preseason debut and first live game since the Toronto playoff bubble in the summer of 2020. ... Tarasov stopped eight of 10 shots on goal for the Sabres.

Roster Report

Here is a link to the roster
the Blue Jackets used for the game, with Columbus dressing Nyquist and Korpisalo for the first time this preseason.

Up Next

Columbus continues the exhibition season Wednesday night in Nationwide Arena vs. Detroit in the penultimate home preseason contest of the year.