Game Preview: Marchenko, Blue Jackets Look To Get Above .500 When They Battle Buffalo Tuesday Night

After a shootout win in the Steel City, the Columbus Blue Jackets can get above .500 on Tuesday night when they face Tage Thompson and the Buffalo Sabres.

Saturday night's 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins almost didn't happen: the Blue Jackets squandered a 4-2 lead with just over five minutes left, including allowing yet another power play goal. But a perfect 3-for-3 in the shootout gave Columbus just enough to get out of town with two points. 

They now have their sights set on another road win, where they're 3-1-0 so far this season. Last year, it was December 1st — in their 11th road game — before Columbus picked up their third victory away from Nationwide Arena.

Here's what to know when the Blue Jackets make their first of two trips to Buffalo this season:

• After losing their first three games of the season, the SABRES are 4-1-1 in their last six games, including wins over the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs. Their power play is converting at a 36.8% rate in that six-game span and at 23.3% for the season, which ranks top ten in the league. 
   
• Former Blue Jacket Justin Danforth inked a deal with the Sabres over the summer but is currently on injured reserve. Another former Blue Jacket, Josh Dunne, is likely to play in what would be his fourth game of the season. In 19 career NHL games with Columbus and Buffalo, Dunne is stil looking for his first NHL point.
   
• The puck drops at 6:45 for this game, a little earlier than normal. That's because it's the return of the NHL's Frozen Frenzy, where all 32 teams play in staggered start times throughout the evening. 
   
• Special teams continue to plague the Blue Jackets in recent games, going 0-for-5 in their last two games when on the man-advantage and allowing three more goals on a combined eight opposition power-plays. 
   
• The top line, though, continues to be the anti-virus. Dmitri Voronkov scored twice in Saturday's win over Pittsburgh and has nine points in eight games. Kirill Marchenko is just one point behind him and is averaging a point per game, and after being held without a point in his first give games, Sean Monahan now has points in three straight contests. 
   
• Miles Wood is back in the lineup, and he'll take the place of Zach Aston-Reese, who is a healthy scratch. Here are the complete LINEUP PROJECTIONS: