Three Things: Wood Shines in OT, Werenski Scores, Jackets Building Road Momentum

By Will Chase on October 29, 2025 at 8:15 am
Oct 28, 2025; Buffalo, New York, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
© Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
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They’re officially streaking.

Miles Wood scored the overtime game-winner as part of a two-goal night in his return to the lineup as the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 on Tuesday night at KeyBank Center.

Columbus has won two straight and four out of five.

Yegor Chinakhov and Zach Werenski each had two points with a goal and an assist. Jet Greaves made 35 saves.

Josh Doan, Ryan McLeod, and Josh Dunne scored for Buffalo. It’s the first career goal for the former Blue Jacket, Dunne. Alex Lyon made 35 saves.

Erik Gudbranson (lower body) was a late scratch as Jake Christiansen took his spot in the lineup.

Here are the three things from Tuesday's win at Buffalo.

Thing One: Welcome Back To The Lineup, Miles Wood

How about that moment for Wood?

In just his third game of the season, Wood got to play the role of hero in the city he was born in as his overtime game-winner at 2:53 propelled the Blue Jackets to victory over the Sabres.  

Werenski added an assist with the assist and Isac Lundestrom earned his second assist of the season.

Wood's first goal of the night was another clutch moment.

At 13:55 of the third period, Wood scored the equalizer to tie the game 3-3. Chinakhov and Dante Fabbro picked up the assists.

Tuesday's game was, of course, Wood's return to the lineup for the first time since the home opener against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 13, when he sustained an accidental stick to the face. As harrowing as that experience was, Wood was afraid it was even worse.

Thing Two: Werenski Lights The Lamp

Last season, Werenski enjoyed a career year with a career best 82 points, garnering Norris votes, and setting the international stage on fire during the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off, and helping Team USA win gold for the first time in 92 years during the World Championship.

So, if you think he's upset about not producing points at the rate people have come to expect, don't bet on it.

But you also know he had to feel good when scoring a power play goal to tie the game at 2-2 in the second period at 19:44 against the league's best penalty kill unit (91.2%).

Columbus' power play on the road is No. 1 in the league during the early going (44.4%). Not a bad night for Werenski as he notches his second multi-point game of the season.

Thing Three: Better Road Start

As the young season continues to play out, the Blue Jackets are starting to set positive new trends compared to how things went last season. For starters, their road record this season is already better at this point than it was for the team after Thanksgiving last year.

Already with four wins away from Nationwide, the Blue Jackets didn't win three road games until Dec. 1 and didn't have their fourth away victory until Dec. 8 last season.

In this one, Columbus had arguably their best start to a period this season, keeping the Sabres from even so much as registering a shot on goal until nearly 13 minutes into the first period.

Looking to build upon a strong start and 1-0 lead after the first 20 minutes, the Jackets had to know the Buffalo push was coming. The Sabres' best period has been the second period, and that trend continued, where they scored twice to take a 2-1 lead. Their 14 goals in the second period are tied for sixth best in the league.

The Sabres are last in the league in faceoff percentage (41.9%), but McLeod's go-ahead goal in the second period came on a deflection directly off their first faceoff win of the period.

Up Next:

The Blue Jackets return home to Nationwide Arena to play the Toronto Maple Leafs in the league's only game on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m.

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