COLUMBUS, Ohio — It didn’t matter what the Columbus Blue Jackets did — they weren’t getting anything past Robin Lehner.
Lehner stopped 38 shots for his third career shutout and Jamie McGinn scored twice to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-0 victory over the Blue Jackets on Friday night.
“He’s an engaged goalie,” Buffalo coach Dan Bylsma said. “Maybe the most engaged goalie I’ve been able to coach and he was engaged tonight. He was certainly on his game, he was strong.”
Columbus began the third period trailing 2-0 but on the power play after officials called Buffalo forward Evander Kane for interference at the end of the second. Brandon Dubinsky had an open net opportunity in the first minute of the final period, but Lehner recovered in time to deny him.
Lehner made multiple crucial saves in the early minutes of the period to thwart any Columbus comeback attempt.
“Been working hard,” Lehner said. “Been some ups and downs. Just going to keep working and feel pretty good right now.”
Sam Reinhart and David Legwand also scored to help Buffalo win for the third time in four games (3-0-1).
Reinhart slipped a shot inside the post at 9:53 of the third for his 18th goal of the season to make it 4-0. Columbus had opportunities, but couldn’t capitalize because of Lehner.
“We had some Grade A chances where we could get back in that game,” Columbus coach John Tortorella said. “It’s a 4-0 game, but he’s a big reason why they win that game. He played very well.”
Blue Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo gave up all four goals on 31 shots and was pulled with 8 1/2 minutes remaining. Curtis McElhinney finished up and stopped all four shots he saw, his first action since Jan. 2. Columbus activated him off injured reserve Monday.
McGinn’s second goal of the game and 14th of the season came at 7:16 of the third when he converted a pass from Zemgus Girgensons.
McGinn opened the scoring with 5:05 left in the first, shoving home a rebound on a power play.
With Columbus on the power play late in the first, Legwand turned and cleared the puck through the air toward Korpisalo. The puck hopped over his glove and into the net to give the Sabres a two-goal advantage with 1:22 left. NHL official play-by-play indicated the goal came from 149 feet out.
“It always has a chance if it’s on net,” Legwand. “We’ve seen them go in like that all year, so why not take a chance?”
“The second goal, weird bounce but that should never go in,” Korpisalo said.
The Blue Jackets had recorded points in their previous six games, going 4-0-2.
Referees whistled five penalties over the final seven minutes of the second. Columbus went on the power play three times in the period – twice when defenceman Scott Hartnell was in the box for a major boarding penalty. There were 15 penalties in all, and even Lehner earned two for leaving the crease and roughing in the third following a tussle behind net.
“You can tell he’s in the game when he’s getting in the scrums at the end and ready to go at anyone, McGinn said.
Columbus had chances, but finished 0 for 6 on the power play.
“I don’t know, we just couldn’t find ways to score tonight,” Columbus captain Nick Foligno said. “It was a weird game, lot of power plays, lot of penalties, but our power play needs to find a way to get it done.”
Buffalo rookie forward Jack Eichel had two assists, giving him 41 points for the season.
It was just the third time this season the Blue Jackets were shut out and the first since a 3-0 loss at Ottawa on Nov. 19.
“He was strong, two real scoring chances on the power play,” Bylsma said of Lehner. “They had five scoring chances at the start of the third period that he had to come up big on. I’m glad we got the zero for him.”
