Knies has 2 goals and an assist in Columbus debut as Blue Jackets beat Sabres 6-3

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Matthew Knies had two goals and an assist in his Columbus debut and the Blue Jackets beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-3 on Thursday night for their first season-opening victory in five years.

Cole Sillinger, Adam Fantilli, Sean Monahan and Mathieu Olivier also scored, and Charlie Coyle added three assists. Reigning Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski had two assists, and Jet Greaves stopped 23 shots.

Knies, acquired from Toronto on Monday, became the first Columbus player to score twice in his Blue Jackets debut. The three points tied the franchise record for a debut set by Artemi Panarin, who had three assists in 2017.

Mattias Samuelsson, Jack Quinn and Konsta Helenius scored for Buffalo, and Noah Ostlund and Owen Power each had two assists. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 16 shots.

Samuelsson, back after suffering a lower-body injury in the preseason, gave the Sabres the lead at 7:21 of the first period while the teams were skating 4 on 4. Sillinger tied it with 7:09 to go in the period, burying Coyle’s drop pass in front of the net.

Knies scored his first Blue Jackets goal on the power play with 2:02 left, then assisted on Fantilli’s goal with 1:16 to go to give Columbus a 3-1 lead.

Quinn pulled Buffalo within a goal 1:25 into the second period before Knies restored the two-goal lead. Helenius made it 4-3, and Monahan added a power-play goal with 5:39 to go in the third. Olivier made it 6-3 with an empty-net goal with 2:07 remaining.

Columbus has won four straight home games against Buffalo.

Sabres: Host Chicago on Saturday night in their home opener.

Blue Jackets: Host Utah on Saturday night.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Columbus Blue Jackets players celebrate after a goal against Buffalo Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, right during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Buffalo Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, left, makes a save against Columbus Blue Jackets' Danton Heinen, center, as Sabres' Rasmus Dahlin (26) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Buffalo Sabres' Noah Ostlund, left, keeps the puck away from Columbus Blue Jackets' Charlie Coyle, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Buffalo Sabres' Zach Metsa (73)and Columbus Blue Jackets' Mathieu Olivier (24) fight during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Columbus Blue Jackets' Matthew Knies celebrates after his goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Freddie Freeman and Emmet Sheehan yawned. Manager Dave Roberts wore shorts to batting practice. The Los Angeles Dodgers are playing it cool as they head into the postseason with history at stake.

They're trying to become the first team since the New York Yankees from 1998-2000 to win three consecutive World Series championships, and the first National League club to ever do it.

They'll leave the sky-high expectations to everyone else.

“It's not something we're really focused on,” third baseman Max Muncy said. “When you talk about three-peating, you're putting that extra pressure on it that doesn't need to be there. Winning a World Series is already hard enough as it is.”

The Dodgers played a simulated game Thursday with the deciding game of the NL Wild Card Series between Philadelphia and Atlanta shown on the stadium video boards. They'll host the winner in Game 1 of the best-of-five NL Division Series on Saturday, when the temperature is forecast to reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) for the day game.

“You’re facing a team that’s already been through the fire and they’ve faced the emotion,” Muncy said.

The Dodgers have spent the bye week getting healthy while mixing in live batting practice, hitting in the cage and sim games in a mostly silent stadium. Other than walk-up songs, the only sounds were the crack of the bat, guys hooting from the dugouts and outfielders yelling to signal they'd handle a fly ball.

Freddie Freeman used the down time to focus on getting his swing mechanics right while managing a right knee issue. The 37-year-old first baseman's plan included taking 400 swings “hopefully to kick out the bad habits,” he said.

Freeman doubled against Tyler Glasnow leading off Thursday's sim game.

“I truly feel good right now physically and it's on me right now to figure out the mechanics of the swing,” he said. “I have no pain in my knee right now.”

Four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani has struggled with nagging right biceps and left knee issues for weeks. His knee shut him down from pitching and his arm recently landed him on the injured list for the first time with the Dodgers. He returned in time to play in five games at the end of the season.

Which version of Ohtani the Dodgers get in the NLDS remains to be seen; however, Roberts said he's “feeling great physically. His swings are overall in a great place.”

The Dodgers' lineup of position players is the oldest in the majors, led by 37-year-old infielder Miguel Rojas, Freeman and 35-year-old Muncy. Ohtani is 32. Reliever Blake Treinen is 38, but will miss the postseason after getting hurt last weekend.

“I think experience is going to be huge,” Freeman said. “We know what it takes.”

At the same time, the Dodgers can't afford to get ahead of themselves.

“If you think big picture in this moment, you’re going to lose sight of things,” Freeman said.

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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws during practice ahead of a baseball NL Division Series Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman yawns during practice ahead of a baseball NL Division Series Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts, right, and Josue de Paula chat during practice ahead of a baseball NL Division Series Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan yawns during practice ahead of a baseball NL Division Series Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy, left, talks with manager Dave Roberts during practice ahead of a baseball NL Division Series Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)