COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Jochen Hecht and Ales Kotalik had a goal
and an assist each to lead the Buffalo Sabres past the Columbus
Blue Jackets 5-2 in a preseason game Thursday night.
Thomas Vanek, Teppo Numminen and Nathan Gerbe also scored for
Buffalo.
"Our puck battles were good. We had a pretty good physical
nature to the game," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "We were right
there to match them."
Derek Dorsett and Rick Nash netted Columbus' goals.
Patrick Lalime made 26 saves for the Sabres (2-3-1), and
Columbus counterpart Fredrik Norrena had 19.
Jiri Novotny fired a slap shot from the slot that caromed off
Dorsett near the crease at 3:03 of the first period to give the
Blue Jackets (2-4) a 1-0 lead.
Hecht pulled Buffalo even, skating down the right wing and
snapping a shot from the right dot inside the near post over
Norrena's glove at 17:40.
"We forechecked good. We were really patient," Hecht said. "I
think it was really good teamwork. Every line got a goal and
everyone contributed."
Vanek made it 2-1 at 6:48. He skated through center ice, eluded
defenseman Rostislav Klesla and fired a slap shot from the right
circle that beat Norrena far side.
Kotalik blistered a slap shot from the point at 15:47 during a
two-man advantage to increase the Sabres' lead to two goals.
Numminen also scored with a long shot during a power play early
in the third period to make it 4-1. Gerbe deked Norrena with a
nifty, backhand move to finish a breakaway at 9:04 to stretch
Buffalo's advantage to four goals.
Nash brought the Blue Jackets within 5-2 with 7:51 remaining in
the game.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)