In the last Columbus Blue Jackets game of 2023, goaltenders Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for the Buffalo Sabres and Daniil Tarasov for Columbus played pivotal roles in keeping the game scoreless in the early stages. The match, held at KeyBank Center, saw both teams creating opportunities, with the Blue Jackets' Kirill Marchenko and Yegor Chinakhov combining for a notable chance that Luukkonen managed to fend off. Despite the Sabres' solid start, leading the shots 3-1 after six minutes, the shots were even at 4-4 through the first half of the opening period. Tarasov, with a record of 1-2-0, a goals against average (GAA) of 4.39, and a save percentage of .852 in his fourth game, made key saves, including a strong stop to deny the Sabres' Jack Quinn. Hockey legend Gilbert Perreault was present to bang the drum before the puck drop, adding to the game's atmosphere.
Luukkonen is the lone reason this game isn't 1-0 #CBJ right now ...great work there in the #Sabres net to stop Gaunce at the right post, off a great high-low feed from Severson. Marchenko also worked some magic in there with a no-look reverse pass through traffic to Chinakhov.
This is why we love the Russian Line. Marchenko has a sixth sense for where Chinakhov is going and hits him back post, through two Sabres, for a look but Luukkonen fights it off. That was a sick play. #CBJ
UPL with a second big save, on Gaunce. Almost drifted again. Shots are 4-4 through 10 1/2 minutes. #Sabres #CBJ
#CBJ Tarasov with a strong save to deny #LetsGoBuffalo Quinn on a shot created off the end boards. Still 0-0, nearing the mid-point for the first.
Tarasov with a bit of a Superman save there at the right post to keep it 0-0 approaching the mid-point of the 1st. #CBJ #Sabres
#Sabres off to a pretty good start here. Shots 3-1 after six minutes. They got the big save they needed from UPL to bail out a mistake and prevent yet another early deficit.
First Grade A of the night went to Chinakhov off a turnover but he couldn't beat Luukkonen. Also, Voronkov shoved Dahlin with such force the Sabres defenseman went flying from the right post all the way to the end boards. #CBJ
#CBJ Chinakhov steps into an awful giveaway by #LetsGoBuffalo, but Luukkonen makes the save at 3:59 of the first.
A clean look for Chinakhov four minutes in but Luukkonen makes the stop on his wrister. Usually in that situation, that's a goal for Chinny. #CBJ
Game on between #CBJ and the Buffalo Sabres @KeyBankCtr.
Danil Tarasov in goal for #CBJ 4th game... 1-2-0, 4.39/.852. Only win against #Sabres on Dec. 19. Again, those numbers. No excuses.
Hockey is happening from Buffalo! #CBJ
Here we go. #cbj
Here we go ... Gilbert Perreault in the house to bang the drum before opening puck drop @KeyBankCtr That's pretty cool. #CBJ and #Sabres are under way.
Luukkonen to the left, Tarasov to the right, and the last #CBJ game of 2023 is under way in Buffalo
#CBJ @ #Sabres ... goaltending matchup will be Ukko-Pekkan Luukkonen for Buffalo and Daniil Tarasov for Columbus. Big day for double letter names.
Jackets/Leafs is an hour away. #CBJ https://t.co/R7JNDo2GqD