Three Days After the Trade, Matthew Knies Sets a Columbus Record in His First Game

Matthew Knies found out on Monday that he was leaving Toronto for Columbus. By Thursday night he was in the Blue Jackets' record book.

Knies scored twice and set up another goal in a 6-3 win over Buffalo, Columbus' first season-opening victory in five years. No Blue Jacket had ever scored two goals in his first game with the team, and his three points matched the debut record Artemi Panarin set with three assists in 2017.

He didn't take long to settle in. With 2:02 left in the first period, Knies scored on the power play for a 2-1 lead. Thirty-six seconds later he set up Adam Fantilli to make it 3-1.

Knies' first goal as a Blue Jacket came on the power play late in the first period.

When Jack Quinn cut it to 3-2 early in the second, Knies restored the two-goal lead. Konsta Helenius brought Buffalo within one again, but Sean Monahan scored on the power play with 5:39 left and Mathieu Olivier added an empty-netter.

Charlie Coyle had three assists, including the drop pass Cole Sillinger buried for the first Columbus goal. Reigning Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski added two assists, and Jet Greaves made 23 saves.

Mattias Samuelsson, back from a preseason lower-body injury, opened the scoring for the Sabres during 4-on-4 play. Noah Ostlund and Owen Power had two assists each, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 16 of 21 shots.

Columbus has now beaten Buffalo four straight times at home. The Blue Jackets host Utah on Saturday. The Sabres open their home schedule the same night against Chicago.