Sabres to Face NHL-Caliber Blue Jackets Lineup in Columbus

After the Buffalo Sabres prospects won in Ottawa Thursday night against a lineup sprinkled with NHL talent, quips of “the Rochester Americans can beat the San Jose Sharks” emerged. The Columbus Blue Jackets weren’t as bad as the Sharks last season, but the Sabres “B” squad will get their chance against a full NHL lineup versus the last-place team in the Eastern Conference in 2023-2024.

With the 27 Sabres that will begin the regular season in the NHL on the trip in Europe, the Sabres prospects have kept Buffalo undefeated in the preseason. They won 3-2 in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, thanks to goals by Graham Slaggert, Nikita Novikov, and Anton Wahlberg. Josh Dunne and Isak Rosen scored in Ottawa to send the game to overtime before Noah Ostlund capped things off with an incredible individual effort for the 3-2 overtime victory.

Ostlund, 3-2 overtime winner 👀 #LetsGoBuffalo #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/vQbStxY4tb

— Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) September 27, 2024

More Preseason: Ostlund Heroics Keep Sabres Undefeated in Preseason

It will take a complete game from the Sabres underdogs to pull off a third consecutive road victory in Columbus based on talent level alone, despite some of the same Blue Jackets playing last night in Washington.

Where to Watch

Gametime: 7:00 p.m. ET

Location: Nationwide Arena (Columbus, Ohio)

TV: N/A

Stream: Sabres.com

Radio: WGR550

Sabres Gameday

The line of Wahlberg, Ostlund, and Mason Jobst are getting the production and praise, but another line has been incredible at driving offense. 18-year-old first-round draft pick Konsta Helenius is centering Buffalo’s top line, and Thursday he was flanked by Isak Rosen and Viktor Neuchev. The trio’s offense graded at an “A” level, with Helenius personally receiving an “A+”.

Helenius is having a Zach Benson-like training camp when comparing how both fared against NHL talent for the first time. Being the main source of that kind of offense and creating elite shot-quality numbers proves that Helenius is close to being NHL-ready, even at his young age.

The structure of this unique preseason never gave the Sabres a chance to mix him with the NHL roster aside from a scrimmage, in which he scored a goal. If Helenius puts up good numbers in Columbus, he’ll be pushing to be Buffalo’s first call-up when an injury arises.

Columbus Blue Jackets

It never seems like a complete lineup without the beloved Johnny Gaudreau, but the Blue Jackets are sending their projected NHL opening night roster, save maybe a couple of guys. The Sabres will see veteran James van Riemsdyk for the first time in Columbus blue, as he’ll skate on a line with rising star Adam Fantilli and Dmitri Voronkov.

The other big names are there as well, with Boone Jenner, Sean Monahan, Kirill Marchenko, and Zach Werenski expected to play.

The only carryovers from their September 23rd matchup in Buffalo are Fantilli, Voronkov, Cole Sillinger, Mathieu Olivier, Jack Johnson, David Jiricek, and Jet Greaves.

It’s unclear whether Greaves will face the Sabres again tonight or just serve as the backup, as Elvis Merzlikins is expected to start in goal.

Injury Report

Buffalo Sabres

• None

Columbus Blue Jackets

• Unspecified

Projected Lineups

Buffalo Sabres

Forwards

Viktor Neuchev – Konsta Helenius – Isak Rosen

Anton Wahlberg – Noah Ostlund – Mason Jobst

Brett Murray – Josh Dunne – Aleksandr Kiskov

Ty Cheveldayoff – Graham Slaggert – Olivier Nadeau

Riley Fiddler-Schultz

Defense

Nikita Novikov – Zach Metsa

Jack Rathbone – Vsevolod Komarov

Colton Poolman – Noah Laaouan

Peter Tischke

Goalies

Felix Sandstrom (Projected)

Scott Ratzlaff

Columbus Blue Jackets

Forwards

Boone Jenner – Sean Monahan – Kirill Marchenko

James van Riemsdyk – Adam Fantilli – Dmitri Voronkov

Yegor Chinakhov – Cole Sillinger – Kent Johnson

Owen Sillinger – Sean Kuraly – Mathieu Olivier

Defense

Zach Werenski – Damon Severson

Ivan Provorov – David Jiricek

Jake Christiansen – Erik Gudbranson

Goalies

Elvis Merzlikins (Projected)

Jet Greaves

Source: Jeff Svoboda, BlueJackets.com