The Blue Jackets are making a habit of starting fast, sputtering and then regrouping for a strong push.
That sequence played out in a third straight game Wednesday night at Nationwide Arena, where the Jackets built a 3-1 lead, watched it vanish late in the second period and rallied in the third for a 5-3 victory against the Buffalo Sabres.
“I really like the response (in the third),” coach Pascal Vincent said. “I felt after the third goal against, we were kind of deflated a little bit on the bench and then we picked it up. Our third period was outstanding, in my opinion.”
The top line of Patrik Laine, Johnny Gaudreau and Kirill Marchenko each finished with a goal and assist to lead the way offensively for the Jackets (3-2-1), who surged ahead 4-3 in the third on the first preseason goal of rookie Adam Fantilli’s NHL career.
“Patty is getting used to playing center,” Vincent said. “Johnny had a much better game today, I thought, but there’s some chemistry between the three of them.”
The Blue Jackets’ top defense pair, Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson, each finished with two assists and forward Emil Bemstrom scored to cap a power play in the first for a 2-0 lead. Zemgus Girgensons scored in the first for the Sabres (3-3-0), who tied it 3-3 late in the second on goals by defenseman Owen Power and rookie forward Zach Benson.
It was the second win in a row in which the Blue Jackets (3-2-1) coughed up a multi-goal lead, after doing the same thing Monday in a 5-3 win over the St. Louis Blues and Saturday in 4-3 loss to the Sabres in Buffalo.
“We have some kind of research that when you have the lead, there is a mental state where you’re … even if we don’t say it, you want to protect the lead,” Vincent said. “What we’re going to try to do is put that away, (so) we stay aggressive, we stay in their face, we stick to the plan no matter what. You’re kind of playing a 0-0 game for 60 minutes, regardless of what the score is.”
The Blue Jackets host the Washington Capitals on Thursday at Nationwide Arena and wrap up the preseason schedule Saturday with a rematch at Capital One Arena in Washington.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres notes
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It was another strong night for the Blue Jackets’ top line centered by Laine. After dominating most of their shifts Monday against St. Louis, they kept the momentum rolling against the Sabres — whom Laine also had success against Saturday in Buffalo. Laine finished with one goal, one assist and two points Wednesday after logging an assist against the Blues and scoring two goals in Buffalo. He finished 5 for 12 (42%) on faceoffs, which is his biggest deficiency at center thus far.
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Bemstrom’s goal was his third in four preseason games to go with three assists for six points. Entering the game, Bemstrom was tied for fourth in the NHL in preseason points and his two goals tied him with many players, including Laine, for fourth in that category. He’s now in a large group tied for third in goals and is tied with Laine for the team lead in scoring, both with 3-3-6 scoring lines.
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Fantilli’s goal was his first of the preseason and third point in three games. Parking at the top of the slot, above the circles, the rookie center set up for a one-timer and clapped it down the slot for a go-ahead goal in the third. Fantilli, drafted third overall this past summer, centered the Jackets’ third line with Kent Johnson and Justin Danforth as wingers. Danforth was camped in front of the net providing a screen on Fantilli’s goal.
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This was Gaudreau’s third game of the preseason and best performance as he dials it up for the start of the regular season. Gaudreau finished with 1-1-2 to move his preseason scoring output to 2-1-3 with the home-and-home set against the Capitals up next. The past two games, his elite playmaking and scoring have begun to emerge while clicking on the top line with Laine and Marchenko.
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The Blue Jackets iced a lineup Wednesday that was entirely NHL players other than Fantilli. Notable lineup placements included Provorov moving to the top pairing, Zach Werenski going to the second pairing and Cole Sillinger moving from a center role to right wing on center Sean Kuraly’s fourth line.
Columbus Blue Jackets lineup vs Buffalo Sabres
Here is how the Blue Jackets’ lineup looked at the opening faceoff against the Sabres on Wednesday at Nationwide Arena, their sixth of eight preseason games:
Forwards
Johnny Gaudreau ― Patrik Laine ― Kirill Marchenko
Alexandre Texier ― Boone Jenner — Emil Bemstrom
Kent Johnson ― Adam Fantilli — Justin Danforth
Eric Robinson ― Sean Kuraly ― Cole Sillinger
Defensemen
Ivan Provorov — Damon Severson
Zach Werenski — Andrew Peeke
Jake Bean — Erik Gudbranson
Goalies
Elvis Merzlikins
Pavel Cajan
bhedger@dispatch.com
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets down Sabres after losing two-goal lead
