The Columbus Blue Jackets (CBJ) dominated the Buffalo Sabres with a 9-4 victory. Kirill Marchenko's highlight-reel goal led to a natural hat trick, making him the second-fastest player in CBJ history to score three goals. The CBJ scored a franchise-record-tying eight even-strength goals. Marchenko's hat trick, along with 10 multipoint scorers, highlighted the game. The Sabres struggled, allowing 42 first-period goals this season. The CBJ's Russian line, consisting of Yegor Chinakhov, Dmitri Voronko, and Kirill Marchenko, has been prolific since December 1, totaling 13 goals, 9 assists, and 22 points in nine games.
BTW, the 18 #CBJ goals over the last week is tied for most in three-game span in franchise history (Feb. 17-22, 2022)
Another solid showing by the #NHLJets fourth line, on the ice and involved in two out of the three goals scored so far.
The #Sabres have allowed a league-high 42 goals in the 1st period this season. Theyβve given up 2+ goals in the opening period in 14 of 33 games: 2g (8x), 3g (5x), 4g (1). Their record in these 14 games? 1-13-0.
#CBJ last night β‘οΈ Second nine-goal performance in team history β‘οΈ Marchenko with the fastest two goals in team history for one player β‘οΈ 10 multipoint scorers β‘οΈ All four lines scored two goals https://t.co/Br8zW0LoEV
The #CBJ "Russian line" β Yegor Chinakhov, Dmitri Voronko, Kirill Marchenko β has been together since Dec. 1. In those nine games, it has totaled: 13 goals, 9 assists, 22 points: Chinakhov: 5-4-9 +1 Voronkov 2-3-5 +1 Marchenko 6-2-8 +2
"We just needed to be ready and be focused on the third, because ... I'm tired of losing games in the third period." #CBJ read -> Marchenko's natural hat trick leads Blue Jackets past Sabres: 9 takeaways from their 9-4 win https://t.co/5V2JtU6edZ via @DispatchAlerts
Hereβs an updated story with quotes. And thereβs more on the floundering Sabres to come later this morning. Kirill Marchenko scores 3 during 7-goal goal surge in Blue Jackets' 9-4 win over Sabres (from @AP) https://t.co/FThh4agk95
The Athletic: Kirill Marchenko's highlight goal β part of his second career hat trick β send #CBJ past #LetsGoBuffalo in a 9-4 rout. Fourteen #CBJ players hit the scoresheet, 10 with multi-point games, as Jackets win second straight on road. https://t.co/557yP7oPBL
Kent Johnson with 1-1-2 tonight for the #CBJ in his third multi-point effort in nine games since returning from @monstershockey - also his second multi-point night in the past three games.
Kiriil Marchenko scores 3 during 7-goal goal surge in Blue Jackets' 9-4 win over Sabres (from @AP) https://t.co/FThh4agk95
Okposo: "I felt like when the mistakes are coming at you like that, you just go deeper and deeper...we played like a young team, we tried to make things happen when they weren't there..." #Sabres
Okposo: "Not a lot of good for sure. It seemed like every ,mistake was costing us...it's not a fun night, especially when you're at home...that's a tough one." #Sabres
#CBJ Marchenko's natural hat trick highlights a huge offensive night, a 9-4 win in #LetsGoBuffalo. Boos from the home crowd.
FINAL: #CBJ 9, Sabres 4 The second highest-scoring performance in team history is highlighted by Kirill Marchenko's hat trick as well as 10 multipoint scorers. First win of the year for Tarasov, as well. See you Thursday in Nationwide vs. Washington.
Up 9-4, #CBJ Gudbranson just blocked two shots on the his #LetsGoBuffalo power play and has now hobbled to the bench and down the tunnel.
Erik Gudbranson with another shot block on a Tage Thompson one-timer on a Buffalo power play. He was in a lot of pain going to the bench. I think he went to the room, in fact. In a 9-4 game... that's leadership, man. #CBJ
Gudbranson blocks a shot here late third and goes straight to the room. #CBJ
14 #CBJ players have points tonight, including 10 with multiple points.
#CBJ have a franchise record-tying eight even strength goals tonight -- two each for all four lines.
This is the second-most goals in a game in #CBJ history. Franchise record is 10 in a 10-0 win over Montreal on 11/4/16
Johnson scores his 4th goal of the campaign to give #CBJ a 9-4 lead with 9:01 left in the 3rd period. Assists to Sillinger and Bemstrom.
This is just the second time in #CBJ franchise history the Jackets have scored nine goals in a game. The other, of course, is the famous 10-0 win over Montreal in 2016.
#CBJ Kent Johnson with a rip from the slot, and it's 9-4 at 10:59 of the third.
π¨ #CBJ goal: Kent Johnson Another strong shift by that line and this time it's Johnson who takes advantage, scoring from the slot. He has a nifty 1-1-2 in the third to keep his scoring run alive. Jackets up 9-4 with 9:01 left. That was the final back in Nationwide last year.
9-4. Kent Johnson nearly beheads UPL with a snapshot with 9:01 left. #CBJ #Sabres
Kent Johnson makes it 9-4 #CBJ ...
All four #CBJ lines with a goal tonight.
Must be said: #CBJ Johnson - Sillinger - Bemstrom line had two really good shifts in this third period, where you could see #LetsGoBuffalo starting to find hope. Played with the puck in Buffalo end on first one, scored a goal on the second.
#CBJ set a season-high with their eighth goal. Sillinger with a redirection from the doorstep off a Werenski shot/pass. 8-4 at 8:30 of the third
Buffalo goal by Cozens 7:51 into the 3rd period. #CBJ lead 7-4.
That was a huge goal for the #CBJ ... Werenski finds Sillinger in front of the net, shot pass, goal Sillinger makes it 8-4 Columbus with 11:30 left 3rd.
Never mind. Sillinger scores for #CBJ. 8-4 with 11:29 left. #Sabres
#LetsGoBuffalo Cozens off the rush beats Tarasov from the right circle at 7:51. It's 7-4.
Things were going as planned there ... but a turnover leads to a 3-on-2 and and now it's 7-4 #CBJ over #LetsGoBuffalo Here we go again. Buckle up.
Dylan Cozens narrows it to 7-4 7:51 into the third period.
Cozens scores on the rush, beating Tarasov clean, and it's 7-4 #CBJ with 12:09 to go. Need a save there. Jackets had been playing fine, but suddenly ... here we go.
Cozens scores...12:09 left...and it's 7-4. If you're a #CBJ fan, you're probably losing your mind right now with Toronto nightmares in your head. #Sabres
Dylan Cozens off the rush from Benson makes it 7-4 with 12:09 to go...
Dylan Cozens, 7-4. There's 12:09 left in the third.
Sabres power play goal by Thompson 2:57 into the 3rd period to cut #CBJ's lead to 7-3.
#LetsGoBuffalo Tage Thompson with a bomb from the left circle, power play goal to make it 7-3 at 2:57.
Tage Thompson scores a power-play goal 2:57 into the third period.
And there it is ... PPG, one-timer Tage Thompson. Clapper from the LW circle. Can't take that penalty there. It's 7-3 #CBJ over #LetsGoBuffalo
Thompson on a power play one-timer at 2:57 of 3rd. Golf claps. #CBJ 7, #Sabres 3
Tage Thompson rips a one-timer on the power play past Tarasov. We've seen that before. Sabres cut the #CBJ lead to 7-3 with 17:03 to go.
Thompson rips a one-timer on the power play, 7-3 Clm.
#CBJ kill the remaining time on #LetsGoBuffalo power play to open the third period, a good first step.
Remember, Sabres are on a power play to start the third. Erik Gudbranson blocks a Tage Thompson one-timer on the opening shift and gets a big hand from the #CBJ bench, banging the sticks on boards.
As the third period gets set to begin, seven #CBJ players with multiple points Marchenko 3-0-3 Gaudreau 1-2-3 Fantilli, Kuraly 1-1-2 Chinakhov, Provorov, Texier 0-2-2
The Blue Jackets scored their 7 goals in a span of 21 minutes, 52 seconds.
Marchenko's 2nd and 3rd goals of the game were scored 18 seconds apart, setting a new #CBJ record for fastest two goals by a single player in a game (Atkinson 31 seconds apart at 16:42 & 17:13 of the 2nd period on Oct. 27, 2018 vs. Buffalo).
Let's do that again: This beauty started a Marchenko hat trick in 8:07 -- the last two 0:18 apart. 7-2 Blue Jackets after 40 minutes. https://t.co/vhAeiZOC4q
Sabres get waxed that period by the #CBJ overall but scored the period's final goal, trail by five with 20 mins left, have 1:26 of PP time to start the 3rd and the Jackets are already deploying their "We're outnumbered in an Old West style saloon shootout, so circle up" tactics.
This beauty finished a Marchenko hat trick in 8:07 -- the last two 0:18 apart. 7-2 Blue Jackets after 40 minutes. https://t.co/vhAeiZP9TY
#CBJ lead 7-2 after two periods. Oh, here comes the third ...
At the end of 40 minutes it's 7-2 Clm. shots in the second were 12-11 Blue Jackets.
After 40: Blue Jackets lead the Sabres 7-2. Shots on goal are 26-15 for Columbus.
End-2nd: #CBJ 7, #Sabres 2 (seriously). Shots are 26-15 for the visitors (it was 12-11 in 2nd). Boo.
Sabres down 7-2 after two periods and being outshot 26-15.
Second period done here in Buffalo, #CBJ up 7-2 on the Sabres.
Buffalo goal by Okposo with 1:06 left in the 2nd period. #CBJ lead 7-2.
#LetsGoBuffalo stop a seven-goal run by #CBJ. Okposo with a turnaround jumper from the right circle. at 18:54. 7-2 #CBJ
Sabres get one back and it's 7-2 #CBJ ... Jackets already starting to get back on their heels and give Buffalo breathing room with possession. We saw how that worked in Toronto. They have to stop this, like, yesterday.
Kirill Marchenko scored a natural hat trick in a span of 8:07, marking the second fastest three goals by one player in @BlueJacketsNHL history behind Jeff Carter (3:18 on Dec. 22, 2011). #NHLStats: https://t.co/c50qPsbMBw https://t.co/netiCR9A58
Kyle Okposo scored his sixth goal of the season. The Sabres are still trailing 7-2 late in the second period.
Kyle Okposo scores on a wrist shot with 1:06 left in the second. Spun and fired from the right dot. #CBJ lead cut to 7-2.
Okposo scores with 1:06 left to make it 7-2. That's how it starts. :)) #Sabres #CBJ
Kirill Marchenko has a hat trick in 8:07, the second-fastest hat trick in franchise history. Is this one the goal of the year so far? π₯ @Sportsnet | H/T @Aportzline https://t.co/pRp9M9Ghto
TOSS THOSE HATS π§’π©π§’ Kirill Marchenko completes his natural hat trick in the second period! @BlueJacketsNHL | @EJHradek_NHL | #CBJ https://t.co/dvzovhzCwF
Marchenko scored his hat trick in 8:07, the second fastest hat trick in franchise history. Jeff Carter needed only 3:18 to pot three against Nashville on 12/22/11.
Kuraly scores his 6th goal of the season with 7:33 left in the 2nd period to give #CBJ a 7-1 lead over the Sabres. Assists to Texier and Gaunce.
This matches a season-high for #CBJ goals. They previously scored seven goals on Nov. 22, a 7-3 win over #Blackhawks
#CBJ Kuraly / fourth line gets in on the fun. Gaunce, a nice chip off the wall ahead to Texier, who sets up Kuraly to finish a 2-on-1. Boo-ffalo in rare form right now, and you can't blame them. It's 7-1 now.
Texier with a great feed to Kuraly and it's 7-1 ... five-hole goal there. These Blue Jackets suck! #LetsGoBuffalo #CBJ
π¨ #CBJ goal: Sean Kuraly Texier finds Kuraly in front on a 2-on-1 and he's able to finish to increase the CBJ lead to 7-1 with 7:33 left in the second. Shades of last year's Sabres drubbing of the Jackets in Nationwide.
Another 2-on-1 for Luukkonen to deal with and another goal for the Jackets, this time from Sean Kuraly who gets the goal to match the number on his back -- 7-1
Sean Kuraly makes it 7-1 12:27 into the second period.
7-1. Sean Kuraly puts a 2-on-1 between UPL's legs...Still 7:33 left in the 2nd. #Sabres #CBJ
#CBJ lead 6-1 as Gudbranson scores his 3rd goal of the campaign with 11:08 left in the 2nd period. Assists to Texier and Kuraly.
Okposo tripping in the offensive zone with 10:16 left in 2nd. #Sabres
Hey, #Sabres got #CBJ right where they want 'em. Jackets had a 5-0 lead in the third last Thursday in Toronto and blew the lead. (had to get an OT goal to win 6-5)
#CBJ Gudbranson scores off the rush to make it 6-1 at 8:52 of the second.
It's 6-1 #CBJ in the 2nd ... Erik Gudbranson, welcome to the party here in Buffalo. Picked a corner on Luukkonen and hit it. Most Jackets fans right now feeling like #LetsGoBuffalo has their team right where they want them. Let's see how it plays out, Cotton.
Those two goals by Marchenko -- 18 seconds apart -- are the fastest two goals by a #CBJ player in franchise history. Previous record is 31 seconds, by Cam Atkinson, also vs. #LetsGoSabres on 10/27/18
Gudbranson from the slot and its 6-1 Clm. That's two goals on two shots on Luukkonen.
Gudbranson scores...6-1....#Sabres in complete freefall. Six goals on 21 shots. Still 11:08 left in the 2nd period.
Marchenko's hat trick is the second of the year for the #CBJ, who also got one from Boone Jenner in game two this season. Marchenko now has six goals in the last seven games as well.
Update from downtown. Marchenko scores 2nd goal in leading to Devon Levi getting yanked. Marchenko scores 3rd goal on first shot Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen faces. It's 5-1 Blue Jackets.
So that's a natural hat trick in a span of 8:07 for Marchenko. Wow. Single-handedly turned a 2-1 game into 5-1. #Sabres #CBJ
π¨ #CBJ goal: Kirill Marchenko A hat trick for Marchy, and that's a tough shot for Luukkonen to face off the hop. It's a 2-on-1 and Marchenko fires one from the left circle off the glove of UPL and into the net. 5-1 Jackets. Second career hat trick for Marchenko.
Marchenko gets the hat trick on Luukkonen's first shot against and it's 5-1 Clm.
And moments later, Blue Jackets on a 2-on-1 makes it 5-1.
Marchenko hatty ... second of his NHL career. It's 5-1 #CBJ over Sabres. Luukkonen's first shot after replacing Levi. #LetsGoBuffalo fans not thrilled.
Marchenko again. Off UPL's glove. A hat trick and two goals in 18 seconds and it's 5-1. And I got nothin. #Sabres #CBJ
Russian line strikes again. Marchenko the finish from the left circle, beating Levi's glove. Chinakhov the drop assist. That's 12 for Marchenko. That's the end of Levi's night, too. Ukka-Pekko Luukkonen coming in. It's 4-1 at 7:37 of the second.
5-1 Blue Jackets. Another easy one. Marchenko again. Quick shot off UPl's glove and in.
Marchenko with some wondrous stickwork around old teammate Robinson and burns Levi. 4-1 for #CBJ with 12:23 left in the 2nd. And here comes UPL for Levi. #Sabres
Kirill Marchenko makes it 4-1 7:37 into the second period. Blue Jackets are outshooting the Sabres 19-7. UPL is replacing Devon Levi.
π¨ #CBJ goal: Kirill Marchenko A much more conventional finish this time, but nonetheless effective. He takes a pass from Yegor Chinakhov sweeping across the zone, cuts past Eric Robinson and wrists it past Levi. 4-1 CBJ with 12:23 left in the second. Curtains for Levi.
4-1 Blue Jackets They had an easy job moving the puck around the offensive zone until Marchenko beat Levi with a shot from atop the left circle. Glove side with 12:23 left in the 2nd period.
Marchenko again and it's 4-1 #CBJ at 7:37 of the 2nd. Top of the left circle. Snipe.
Sillinger needs to shoot that one. Bemstrom had a wide-open cage if that pass gets over ... but it didn't get over, so Johnson's initial feed from behind the net (sensing a trend?) goes for naught. Still 3-1 #CBJ over #LetsGoBuffalo ... could be 5-1 with more finish.
Sabres start the second down 3-1. Shots were 14-4 Clm.
#Sabres outscored 42-22 in first periods now. NHL-worst minus-20. They are combined plus-5 in 2nd and 3rd periods.
Gaudreau gets his third point of the period here, but Marchenko makes this one happen. What a goal, top cheddar and all. #CBJ https://t.co/BqU1Bl6q0M
With that Marchenko goal, #CBJ has now scored on five of the last 13 power plays.
Oh. Itβs 3-1 Blue Jackets.
#CBJ lead 3-1 after the opening period of play. Also lead shots, 14-4.
After 20: Blue Jackets lead the Sabres 3-1 and are up 14-4 in shots on goal.
Sabres grabbed a lead 30 seconds in and Columbus took over the rest of the way. Jackets lead 3-1 and have a 14-4 shot advantage after one. Things went downhill quickly for Buffalo
SportsCenter top 10 quality goal there by Kirill Marchenko. That was one of the best goals of the season for the #CBJ, and maybe the league. Goals from Gaudreau, Fantilli and Marchenko have the Jackets up 3-1 after one.
Sabres are booed off the ice. The last time the #CBJ did that to a team, the Maple Leafs responded with a five-goal third period to overcome a 5-0 deficit and send the game to OT at 5-5. Let's see how the Jackets handle it this time in the 2nd period.
Marchenko with a shot through his legs and into the net on the power play. 3-1 Blue Jackets
The #Sabres had four shots on goal in that period. They had two in the first two minutes of the game. Disgraceful.
End-1st: #CBJ with a stunning 3-1 lead over #Sabres as the crowd crushes the home team with boos. Shots are 14-4 for the visitors. The soul-searching continues.
Kirill Marchenko scores a between-the-legs power play goal. Sabres down 3-1 after one period and get booed off the ice. Blue Jackets have a 14-4 shot advantage.
Marchenko with a backhand shot through his legs and into the net. 3-1 Blue Jackets
Marchenko with a ridiculous between-the-legs-far-side goal that made even Sabres fans go, "Whoa!" It's 3-1 #CBJ on Marchenko's 11th goal.
π¨ #CBJ goal: Kirill Marchenko Just a dirty, dirty goal. He takes the puck at the side of the net on the power play, backs in, tucks it between the legs and fires over Levi's glove. That was sick. Jackets up 3-1 as the horn about to sound in the first.
Wow. Marchenko with a highlight-reel between his legs and to the top corner. Are you kidding me? Spectacular. #CBJ lead #Sabres 3-1 with 11.5 left in the first. Yikes.
Unreal goal by Kirill Marchenko. Between-the-legs shot to beat Levi over the shoulder on a Blue Jackets power play. It's 3-1, Columbus.
#CBJ gave up a goal 30 seconds in and since have outshot the Sabres by a 12-3 margin and are up 2-1.
The Sabres have been outshot 11-2 since 90 seconds into the game. Turnovers, overpassing, bad breakouts, you name it. Can't play like this at home against the Blue Jackets. Gotta respond.