Rookie Colten Ellis records first NHL shutout as Sabres beat Blue Jackets 5-0

Buffalo goaltender makes 37 saves to dent Columbus' playoff hopes

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:25am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a hockey game, with the players and ice reduced to abstract shapes and planes of color in the style of Pablo Picasso.A cubist interpretation of the Sabres' dominant shutout victory, with the players and action deconstructed into a dynamic geometric composition.Columbus Today

Rookie goaltender Colten Ellis stopped all 37 shots he faced to record his first career NHL shutout, leading the Buffalo Sabres to a 5-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Josh Doan scored two third-period goals to break the game open, while Peyton Krebs, Jack Quinn, and Rasmus Dahlin also found the back of the net for the Sabres.

Why it matters

The win helps the Sabres maintain their lead in the Atlantic Division with just a week left in the regular season, while the loss is a significant blow to the Blue Jackets' playoff hopes as they sit ninth in the tightly contested Eastern Conference race.

The details

Ellis, making his first start in over two months, was stellar in net for the Sabres, turning aside all 37 shots he faced. Krebs opened the scoring in the first period on a two-on-one rush, and the Sabres then scored four times in the third period to pull away. Doan's two goals in the final frame were the key blows, as he first stripped the puck from Columbus' Charlie Coyle and scored on a breakaway, then added another tally later in the period.

  • The game was played on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
  • Ellis recorded his first career NHL shutout.

The players

Colten Ellis

A rookie goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres who made 37 saves for his first career NHL shutout.

Josh Doan

A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who scored two third-period goals to break the game open.

Peyton Krebs

A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who opened the scoring in the first period.

Jet Greaves

The goaltender for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who made 19 saves in the loss.

Charlie Coyle

A forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets who had the puck stripped from him by Doan leading to a Sabres goal.

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What they’re saying

“This was a huge win for us as we try to lock up the division title. Colten was outstanding in net and the guys played a great team game in front of him.”

— Peyton Krebs, Forward, Buffalo Sabres

What’s next

The Sabres will look to continue their strong play as they head to Chicago on Monday night, while the Blue Jackets will try to bounce back when they visit Montreal on Saturday.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the Sabres' depth and goaltending as they continue their push for the playoffs, while the Blue Jackets' loss is a significant blow to their postseason hopes with just a few games remaining in the regular season.