Tweet
Sports Recap
BUFFALO 6, COLUMBUS 0
BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- Martin Biron made 23 saves for his
second shutout of the season and defenseman Dmitri Kalinin
scored twice as the Buffalo Sabres kept their slim playoff hopes
alive with a 6-0 rout of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Biron needed to make only six saves in the first period and
seven in the second before turning aside 10 shots in the third
for his 17th career shutout and 100th NHL win. He blanked the
Washington Capitals, 6-0, on March 10.
Kalinin recorded his first career two-goal game and added an
assist for his first three-point contest. He opened the scoring
6:07 into the first period, getting credit for his eighth goal
when the puck hit off Blue Jackets defenseman Scott Lachance's
skate and into the net.
Derek Roy tallied his ninth goal a little more than a minute
later with a slap shot from the top of the slot.
"We're at our best when we're skating, and we have really fast
lines and we've gotta utilize our speed as much as we can," Roy
said. "We were throwing pucks to the net tonight. We were
working well down low. We kept moving, so it was a good job by
our line."
Kalinin gave Buffalo a 3-0 lead with a shorthanded goal at 8:07
of the second period.
The Sabres tallied three times in the third as Maxim Afinogenov
notched his 17th, defenseman James Patrick put in his fourth and
Chris Taylor scored unassisted for his sixth.
Chris Drury collected two assists for the Sabres, who moved
within three points of the idle New York Islanders for the
eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with
three games to go.
"It's a hell of a lot better than five points," Sabres coach
Lindy Ruff said. "It just moves us that much closer. They have
to be feeling a lot of heat now."
Buffalo extended its unbeaten streak to five games (4-0-1) and
has points in 10 of its last 11 (6-1-1-3).
"It's good to get guys feeling good about themselves
offensively, but we've been playing pretty well over the last
little while and getting points almost every night," Sabres
right wing Mike Grier said. "So I think we're a confident group
right now and just trying to put a little pressure on the
Islanders."
Fred Brathwaite made 33 saves, but Columbus was unable to win
its franchise-best fifth straight game. The Blue Jackets were
shut out for the 11th time this season.
"I think we were standing still a lot, taking for granted the
work we did in the previous four games," Columbus captain Luke
Richardson said. "They were very desperate. Their defense
played very aggressive up on our forwards. Uur forwards were
standing still, as we all were in our zone."
BUFFALO 6, COLUMBUS 0
BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- Martin Biron made 23 saves for his
second shutout of the season and defenseman Dmitri Kalinin
scored twice as the Buffalo Sabres kept their slim playoff hopes
alive with a 6-0 rout of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Biron needed to make only six saves in the first period and
seven in the second before turning aside 10 shots in the third
for his 17th career shutout and 100th NHL win. He blanked the
Washington Capitals, 6-0, on March 10.
Kalinin recorded his first career two-goal game and added an
assist for his first three-point contest. He opened the scoring
6:07 into the first period, getting credit for his eighth goal
when the puck hit off Blue Jackets defenseman Scott Lachance's
skate and into the net.
Derek Roy tallied his ninth goal a little more than a minute
later with a slap shot from the top of the slot.
"We're at our best when we're skating, and we have really fast
lines and we've gotta utilize our speed as much as we can," Roy
said. "We were throwing pucks to the net tonight. We were
working well down low. We kept moving, so it was a good job by
our line."
Kalinin gave Buffalo a 3-0 lead with a shorthanded goal at 8:07
of the second period.
The Sabres tallied three times in the third as Maxim Afinogenov
notched his 17th, defenseman James Patrick put in his fourth and
Chris Taylor scored unassisted for his sixth.
Chris Drury collected two assists for the Sabres, who moved
within three points of the idle New York Islanders for the
eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with
three games to go.
"It's a hell of a lot better than five points," Sabres coach
Lindy Ruff said. "It just moves us that much closer. They have
to be feeling a lot of heat now."
Buffalo extended its unbeaten streak to five games (4-0-1) and
has points in 10 of its last 11 (6-1-1-3).
"It's good to get guys feeling good about themselves
offensively, but we've been playing pretty well over the last
little while and getting points almost every night," Sabres
right wing Mike Grier said. "So I think we're a confident group
right now and just trying to put a little pressure on the
Islanders."
Fred Brathwaite made 33 saves, but Columbus was unable to win
its franchise-best fifth straight game. The Blue Jackets were
shut out for the 11th time this season.
"I think we were standing still a lot, taking for granted the
work we did in the previous four games," Columbus captain Luke
Richardson said. "They were very desperate. Their defense
played very aggressive up on our forwards. Uur forwards were
standing still, as we all were in our zone."