Knies Dub: Newest Jacket scores twice; Columbus wins 6-3 in season opener

Thursday, October 1, 2026
By Ed Francis
efrancis@cbussports.com

Matthew Knies (89) tips in a goal for Columbus, his second of the night, in the Blue Jackets 6-3 win Thursday at Nationwide Arena. Photo: Kevin Rouch

For the first time in five years, the Columbus Blue Jackets are 1-0-0- to open the season.

Matthew Knies scored twice and Charlie Coyle and Zach Werenski combined for five assists as the Blue Jackets defeated the Buffalo Sabres by a final of 6-3 in Thursday night’s season opener.

The Blue Jackets fell behind early after a goal from the Sabres’ Mattias Samuelsson just over seven minutes into the game, but Cole Sillinger answered 5:30 later to tie the game at 1-1 and get blood flowing into the Nationwide Arena crowd.

Just over five minutes after the Blue Jackets had tied it, Knies would get his first of two on the night to put Columbus in front. Adam Fantilli scored 46 seconds later to put the Blue Jackets up 3-1 after the first period.

Buffalo’s Jack Quinn halved the lead just over a minute into the second period, but Knies picked up another goal to regain a two-goal lead for the Blue Jackets. The Sabres would make it a 4-3 game heading into the third period on a goal from Konsta Helenius, but Columbus would take a 5-3 lead with a Sean Monahan power-play goal with just 5:39 left in the game.

Mathieu Olivier added an empty-netter to bring it to a 6-3 final.

In his postgame presser, Knies told Blue Jackets Hockey Network analysis Jody Shelley that he was “a little nervous” early, but that he was propelled by “a damn fun locker room.”

“This place is unbelievable,” added Knies.  

Here’s a breakdown of a six-goal night from the Blue Jackets:

Columbus’ first goal of the season is all hustle from Coyle. Down 1-0, he makes something out of seemingly nothing, stealing the puck away from the Buffalo defense and then slicing through a pair of Sabre defenders before leaving the puck in the slot for Sillinger. Buffalo goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who stopped just 17 of 22 shots on the night, can’t find Sillinger’s shot before it’s in the back of the net to make it a 1-1 game with 7:09 left in the first.

The power play connects on their first full attempt of the season, and it’s Knies who comes through for the Blue Jackets with 2:02 left in the opening period. Zach Werenski gets his first point of the season when he does a great job of keeping the puck in the zone just before finding Coyle to the right of Luukkonen, who quickly dishes it to Knies in the slot. That’s the perfect area for Knies, who rips a one-timer into the net for the Blue Jackets’ first lead of the season at 2-1.

Just 46 seconds after Knies’ goal comes Fantilli’s tip-in to make it 3-1 Blue Jackets. The goal started from a Fantilli face-off win before Knies kicks it back to Werenski. What seems to be an innocuous shot by Werenski is redirected at the last minute by Fantilli and it’s just enough to beat Luukkonen for a two-goal Columbus lead with just 1:16 left in the opening frame.

A lot of good work around the boards helps restore a two-goal lead after the Sabres cut to a 3-2 game. Knies gets his second of the night by being in a place he’s most comfortable: the low slot. Defenseman Emil Andrae, who came over with Knies earlier this week in the Kirill Marchenko trade, fires a shot from the middle of the blue line, and Knies is in the right spot at the right time to redirect it past Luukkonen to make it 4-2 Blue Jackets at the 7:45 mark of the second period.

In a 4-3 game in the closing minutes, the Blue Jackets get their second power play goal of the game to go up two goals for the third time in the game. This time it’s Sean Monahan, who gets just enough of his stick on the puck after a shot from the circle by Valeri Nichushkin to redirect it into the Buffalo net. A big goal, as it put Columbus up 5-3 with just 5:39 left in the game.

The empty-netter seals the deal. Olivier collects the puck near center ice and pushes it down the ice for Columbus’ sixth goal of the game and one that assured the home crowd would go home happy.

CBJ's Mathieu Olivier fights

Columbus forward Mathieu Olivier (24) takes on Buffalo defenseman Zach Metsa during the second period of the opener for both teams Thursday at Nationwide Arena. Photo: Kevin Rouch

QUICK THOUGHTS: That was a game that was almost everything you can ask for if you’re a Blue Jackets fan. The new guys, led by Knies, looked extremely comfortable and contributed in big ways throughout the night. But even more impressive than them: the special teams. That’s been a weak spot in recent seasons for the Blue Jackets, but they converted on two of the three power plays on the evening (the one they didn’t score on was an abbreviated, 25 second version) and killed off all five of Buffalo’s power play opportunities, including a full two-minute 5-on-3. If special teams can continue to play like that, this team has the potential to be dangerous.

NEXT UP: The Blue Jackets will look for back-to-back wins to start the season when they hit the ice Saturday night against the Utah Mammoth. Puck drop at Nationwide Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.