NHL Blue Jackets continue losing ways on road

The Sabres took an early lead and never relinquished it.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Taylor Pyatt scored twice and the Buffalo Sabres snapped their 12-game winless streak with a 5-4 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.
Miroslav Satan, Vaclav Varada and James Patrick also scored, while goaltender Ryan Miller was shaky, stopping 17 shots to earn his first NHL victory. The win came a month to the day since Buffalo's last victory, ending an 0-9-2-1 streak, which matched a franchise record.
The win didn't come easily as Buffalo almost squandered a three-goal third-period lead when David Vyborny and Lasse Pirjeta scored 2:39 apart to make it 5-4 with 3:22 remaining. Columbus, however, failed to manage a shot the rest of the way despite pulling its goalie in the final minute.
Ray Whitney scored a short-handed goal and Derrick Walser also scored for the Blue Jackets, who have managed just one win in eight road games. The loss was also Columbus' first against Buffalo in its 3-year history, ending a 3-0-1 string.
Sabres take lead
The Sabres never trailed after Pyatt staked them to a 2-0 lead by the 2:35 mark of the second period, wrapping in a rebound behind Columbus' Marc Denis during a delayed penalty.
Buffalo appeared in full control when Varada and Patrick scored goals 1:51 apart, putting Buffalo ahead 5-2 lead with 7:40 remaining.
The Blue Jackets rallied within one when Pirjeta converted Geoff Sanderson's pass through the crease, slipping it in under Miller's outstretched arm.
The game was Buffalo's first since the NHL gave conditional approval Wednesday to Buffalo businessman Mark Hamister and Todd Berman's joint bid to purchase the financially troubled Sabres.
The two must now await NHL board of governor approval which, if all goes well, is expected to come early next year.
Hamister received a standing ovation when he was introduced and pictured on the center-ice video scoreboard, shaking hands with fans in the stands during a first-period break.