Sabres Extend Atlantic Division Lead With Shutout Win Over Blue Jackets

Buffalo stays atop the Atlantic with a decisive victory over a struggling Columbus team.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:06am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game in progress, with sharp, overlapping planes of blue, red, and yellow representing the players and action on the ice.The Sabres' dominant performance against the Blue Jackets showcases their ability to control the pace of play and stifle their opponents.Columbus Today

The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 on Saturday night, extending their lead atop the Atlantic Division. Josh Doan scored twice for the Sabres, while Peyton Krebs, Jack Quinn, and Zach Benson also found the back of the net. Jet Greaves made 19 saves in the loss for Columbus, who have now lost seven of their last eight games and are struggling to gain ground in the tight Metropolitan Division race.

Why it matters

The Sabres' win keeps them in firm control of the Atlantic Division, as they now hold a two-point lead over the second-place Montreal Canadiens and a four-point lead over the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets' recent struggles have them falling behind in the Metropolitan Division playoff race.

The details

The Sabres opened the scoring in the first period when Peyton Krebs beat Greaves with a snap shot from the right circle. The play started when Josh Norris stripped the puck from Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski. In the third period, Josh Doan scored twice, first by stripping the puck from Charlie Coyle and beating Greaves, and then by tapping in a pass from Zach Benson. Jack Quinn also scored for Buffalo, roofing a wrist shot over Greaves.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 9, 2026.
  • Peyton Krebs scored the opening goal at 13:41 of the first period.
  • Josh Doan scored his first goal at 7:19 of the third period.
  • Jack Quinn scored at 13:21 of the third period.
  • Josh Doan scored his second goal at 13:46 of the third period.

The players

Josh Doan

A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who scored two goals in the game.

Josh Norris

A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who had two assists in the game.

Logan Stanley

A defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres who had two assists in the game.

Jet Greaves

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

Zach Werenski

A defenseman for the Columbus Blue Jackets who was stripped of the puck leading to the Sabres' opening goal.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was a big game for us in the division race, and the guys came out and played a complete game. Shutting down a team like Columbus is no easy task, but our defense was solid and our forwards did a great job creating chances.”

— Don Granato, Head Coach, Buffalo Sabres

“We just couldn't generate enough offense tonight. Credit to Buffalo, they played a strong defensive game and capitalized on our mistakes. We need to regroup and find a way to start picking up more points if we want to stay in the playoff race.”

— Brad Larsen, Head Coach, Columbus Blue Jackets

What’s next

The Sabres will look to continue their strong play and maintain their lead in the Atlantic Division when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, April 12. The Blue Jackets will try to bounce back and gain ground in the Metropolitan Division when they visit the Washington Capitals on Thursday, April 14.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the Sabres' ability to win tough divisional matchups and the Blue Jackets' recent struggles to keep pace in a crowded Metropolitan playoff race. Buffalo's depth scoring and stifling defense proved too much for Columbus, who now find themselves slipping further behind in the standings.