Josh Norris Scores Twice as Sabres Power Past Blue Jackets

Josh Norris scored two goals and Jack Quinn contributed a goal and an assist as the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 on Friday night. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen turned aside 24 shots in goal to secure the victory for Buffalo, while Kent Johnson accounted for both Columbus tallies with a goal and an assist.

The Buffalo Sabres delivered an assertive performance on Friday night, pulling away for a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2026-27 NHL Regular Season action. Led by a two-goal effort from Josh Norris, Buffalo controlled the pace and capitalized on key offensive chances to establish a comfortable three-goal margin by the final horn.

Columbus mounted resistance behind Kent Johnson, who registered a goal and an assist, but the Blue Jackets struggled to generate enough sustained pressure to overcome Buffalo's balanced attack. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stood tall between the pipes for Buffalo, turning aside 24 shots to keep Columbus at bay throughout the contest.

The decisive moment

Buffalo seized command during a crucial stretch where Jack Quinn and Josh Norris combined to break the game open. Quinn notched a goal and an assist, orchestrating clean offensive transitions that consistently unsettled the Columbus defensive structure.

Whenever the Blue Jackets threatened to narrow the deficit behind Johnson's playmaking, Luukkonen answered with timely stops in the crease. His steady presence denied Columbus second-chance opportunities and allowed Buffalo to maintain control into the late stages.

By the numbers

Josh Norris led all goal scorers with two tallies for the Sabres.
Jack Quinn registered a multi-point performance with one goal and one assist for Buffalo.
Kent Johnson factored into both Columbus scores, finishing with one goal and one assist.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen anchored the Sabres in net with 24 saves on 26 shots against.

Buffalo's offensive efficiency proved to be the separator, converting prime chances into five goals while limiting high-danger threats at the other end of the ice.

What it means

The victory provides a vital boost for Buffalo as the 2026-27 NHL Regular Season gathers momentum. Overcoming the absences of Konsta Helenius, Alex Lyon, and Matt Grzelcyk demonstrates organizational depth and resilience across the lineup.

For the Blue Jackets, the loss highlights the challenge of chasing games on the road when primary scoring is concentrated in few hands. Despite Johnson's strong individual night, Columbus will look to tighten defensive coverage and generate more widespread offensive contributions moving forward.

What to watch next

The Sabres will look to build on this clinical offensive showing and maintain their winning formula on home ice. Meanwhile, Columbus aims to regroup quickly and correct defensive lapses as their regular-season schedule continues.