BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Eric Robinson enjoyed the first three-goal game of his career, and the Blue Jackets weathered a late comeback bid to beat Buffalo 5-3 and stall the Sabres’ playoff push.
Boone Jenner and Kent Johnson also scored for a Columbus team that won its league-low seventh road game of the season.
Elvis Merzlikins stopped 39 shots and added an assist for the Eastern Conference’s last-place team already looking ahead to next year by offloading pending free agents before the NHL trade deadline Friday.
Columbus traded injured forward Gustav Nyquist to the Minnesota Wild for a fifth-round draft pick. Nyquist missed his 13th game with a shoulder injury and is not expected to resume playing until after the regular season.
Meantime, goalie Joonas Korpisalo, who was scheduled to be the backup, was held out for trade-related reasons.
Buffalo rookie Jack Quinn had a goal and an assist.
J.J. Peterka also scored and Tage Thompson got his team-leading 41st goal for the ninth-place Sabres.