Postgame Report | Mittelstadt, Peterka score during loss to Columbus

Don Granato has cited assertiveness as a core tenet of the identity the Sabres are striving for this season. The coach wants his team to play with confidence, pressuring the puck relentlessly without letting the fear of mistakes stand in its way.
Too often, Granato found the opposite to be true during a 5-3 preseason loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets at KeyBank Center on Monday. Hesitation led to wide-open looks for the Blue Jackets, who capitalized to build an insurmountable lead during the first 40 minutes.
"We were not quick to close out anybody," Granato said. "Where we got in trouble tonight was hesitation, and it killed us there. And it really did. We gave up some free stuff there because of the hesitation."

Casey Mittelstadt scored a pair of goals for the Sabres. JJ Peterka also scored.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 25 saves.

Blue Jackets forward Jakub Voracek, who finished with a game-high three points (1+2), beat Luukkonen with a shot from the right faceoff circle to open the scoring on the power play just 3:31 into the contest. The Blue Jackets would go on to build a 5-1 lead on the back of defensive lapses prior to the second intermission.
Emil Bemstrom forced a turnover at the Columbus blue line and scored on a breakaway. Boone Jenner was alone in the crease for a power-play goal early in the second period. Patrik Laine, one of the game's premier shooters, had ample space for his one-time goal from the high slot.
"We were on our heels, we were hesitant," Granato said. "I don't question our intent. We just were tight and hesitant. We were afraid to make a mistake, and when you're afraid to make a mistake, you give your opponents lots of opportunity."
The good news, Granato said, is that the mistakes he saw Monday are correctable. The Sabres began to adjust as the game progressed and tightened the gap during the third period, when Mittelstadt and Peterka scored goals to cut the deficit to two.
"We're gonna get better quick based on what I watched today, because there's a lot of easy stuff that once the players see it, they can correct it right away," he said.
Here are more takeaways from Monday's game.

Luukkonen bounces back

Considering the high-danger nature of Columbus' scoring chances, Granato felt the best way to evaluate his 22-year-old goaltender was based on how he responded during the third period.
Luukkonen stopped all nine shots he faced over the final 20 minutes, including an early scoring chance from defenseman Zach Werenski.
"It was good to see him play as solid as he did in the third period and battle the way he did," Granato said. "If we pulled him out, we wouldn't see that. He wouldn't have had that opportunity to fight through."

A dynamic play from Peterka

Peterka, a second-round pick in 2020 who is entering his first pro season in North American, was given an opportunity to play alongside a mostly veteran lineup Monday.
He continued to showcase his offensive potential with his third-period goal, which saw him win a loose puck against Werenski in the neutral zone, skate in behind the Columbus defense and beat goaltender Daniil Tarasov from in tight.

It was the second goal of the preseason for Peterka, who also scored twice in two contests during the Prospects Challenge.
"It was an extremely impressive goal," Granato said. "He knew there was an opportunity to score 120 feet away from the net."

Up next

The Sabres visit the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday night. The Pittsburgh feed will air live in the Buffalo broadcast market on MSG beginning at 7 p.m.