The Blue Jackets found a way to get it done last night, winning a road game 4-3 in overtime, over the Sabres in Buffalo. It was far from a perfect game, but it was enough to get their second straight win.
For much of the opening period, the Jackets were swarming the Sabres and carrying the pace of the game. They led 1-0 after 20 minutes thanks to a nifty Yegor Chinakhov goal, but faced a much better opponent in the second period.
As the Jackets did in the first, the Sabres carried play in the second. They scored twice to take the lead, but Zach Werenski blasted home a late power-play goal to tie the game up before the second intermission.
Buffalo retook the lead early in the third period and looked to be skating their way to victory on this night. But the fourth line bailed the Jackets out again, with Chinakhov making a nice patient play before firing a shot that Miles Wood tipped home to tie it late.
The Blue Jackets picked up the win in overtime on another deflection goal from Wood, capping off what became a surprisingly thrilling game in Buffalo.
Three Good Things
1. The fourth line. Playing their first game as a unit this season, the trio of Miles Wood, Isac Lundestrom, and Yegor Chinakhov scored three of the team's four goals last night.
They were strong on both sides of the puck, with an interesting mix of speed, skill, physicality, and defensive awareness. Simply put, this line's play stole the game for the Blue Jackets.
2. They won the special teams battle. We mentioned it in our preview yesterday: win the special teams battle, win the game. They did both, going 1/1 on the power-play and killing off both Sabres man advantages.
3. Brotherhood. This team fought for each other last night. Buffalo played a hard, physical hockey game; much different than the Sabres teams we are used to seeing. But the Jackets did not wilt, they stood in there and played their own game.
Three Bad Things
1. They stopped skating. For a long stretch at the end of the first and through most of the second, the Blue Jackets took their foot off the gas. They had the Sabres down and out, but let the momentum swing in the complete opposite direction.
2. The middle six was not good. The second and third lines of the Blue Jackets were not on their game last night. Both lines struggled with the puck, and it feels like they need a shakeup (ahem: give Yegor Chinakhov a chance).
3. Former Jackets. If you have been here for long enough, you know it: any time this team faces a former player, he's scoring a goal. So, of course Josh Dunne got his first career NHL goal last night.
Conclusion
It doesn't have to be pretty on the road to be a good win. The Jackets banded together, rallied and got the job done last night in Buffalo. They earned 2 huge points in the standings and pushed themselves past the .500 mark for the first time this year. We'll take it.