Columbus Blue Jackets at Buffalo Sabres

Tuch scores 2 and Sabres beat Blue Jackets 3-2 to enjoy 1st 4-game winning streak in 2 years

Bowen Byram had a goal and an assist, and James Reimer stopped 28 shots to get his second win of the season and snap a five-game skid (0-4-1). Buffalo had not won four straight since a five-game run spanning Jan. 19-26, 2023.

Kent Johnson got his career-high-tying 16th goal, and Ivan Provorov also scored for Columbus. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 18 shots.

Tuch put Buffalo ahead 2-1 with 7:43 left in the second period by getting his stick out to deflect Dennis Gilbert’s hard centering pass into the middle. Tuch scored again some six minutes later by deflecting in Rasmus Dahlin’s shot from the right point.

The Blue Jackets were without forward Kirill Marchenko (broken jaw) and defensemen Zach Werenski (undisclosed) and Dante Fabbro (upper body). The Sabres were without Tage Thompson (head), defenseman Mattias Samuelsson (lower body) and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who was hurt during the morning practice.

Takeaways Blue Jackets: Columbus looked tired closing a four-game road swing that included OT wins at Vegas and Utah.

Sabres: Buffalo held a team meeting Monday to discuss lack of response after New Jersey’s Stefan Noesen checked Thompson in the head on Sunday. The apparent response? Opened game against Columbus with Gilbert fighting Mathieu Olivier 3 seconds in.

Key moment Byram opened the scoring converting a rebound in front 10:07 in and with Buffalo being outshot 7-0.

Key stat The Blue Jackets’ loss at Buffalo was their first in regulation in nine outings (5-1-3), dating to a 3-1 loss on Jan. 11, 2018.

Up Next Blue Jackets host Utah on Thursday, while Sabres visit Nashville on Saturday.

Series tied 1-1