Miles Wood’s Overtime Goal Leads Blue Jackets Past Sabres 4-3

BUFFALO, New York — Miles Wood scored his second goal of the game 2:53 into overtime, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday at KeyBank Center.

Wood, who returned after missing five games due to an eye injury, netted the game-winner from the side of the net off a pass from Zach Werenski. Earlier, he had tied the game at 3-3 in the third period with a deflection on a shot from Yegor Chinakhov.

“Yeah, it was a great team win for us,” Wood said. “We played as a team tonight, and it certainly showed. Just happy to be back with the team.”

Columbus improved to 5-4-0 on the season, winning four of their last five games. Chinakhov and Werenski each contributed a goal and an assist, while goalie Jet Greaves made 35 saves. “We did some really good things, obviously, early,” said Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason. “Did we play consistent for 60 minutes? No, but we hung around.”

Buffalo fell to 4-4-2, losing its last two games in overtime. The Sabres scored goals from Josh Doan and Ryan McLeod, with Doan pushing his own rebound through Greaves’ pads to tie the game in the second period.

In the second period, Dunne put the Sabres ahead with his first NHL goal at the 2:40 mark. “Honestly, it was great work by my linemates,” Dunne said, reflecting on the goal.

Columbus had a late surge, with Werenski scoring a power-play goal to tie the game at 2-2 just 16 seconds before the end of the second period. Following Dunne’s goal, Wood found the net after a strategic play coordinated by his linemates.

Coach Lindy Ruff expressed optimism despite the loss, saying, “There was a lot I liked about how we were playing in that third period.”

The Blue Jackets will next face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday at Nationwide Arena.