NHL Game Summary - Buffalo at Columbus

Columbus, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Cam Atkinson recorded the winning goal in the middle portion of the third period, and red-hot Columbus nipped Buffalo by a 4-2 count at Nationwide Arena.

Nick Foligno, Matt Calvert and Boone Jenner added markers for the Blue Jackets, who reached the 40-win plateau for the second consecutive season thanks to their 11th win in the last 12 outings.

Sergei Bobrovsky came up with 23 saves.

Columbus head coach Todd Richards notched his 126th win at the helm, passing Ken Hitchcock for the most in team history.

"The fans were buzzing, we owe all our success to them," Atkinson said.

Mikhail Grigorenko and Brian Gionta tallied for the Sabres, whose loss clinched 30th place in the NHL and the best shot at snagging the No. 1 overall pick in June's draft.

Anders Lindback stopped 36 shots in defeat as Buffalo reached 50 regulation defeats for the second consecutive campaign.

Atkinson struck at 10:35 of the third and the Blue Jackets led 3-2, following up a Dalton Prout rebound and beating Lindback from the right circle.

Buffalo decided on an extra attacker in the final minute-plus and Jenner removed all doubt of a Sabres comeback with his empty-net marker with 10 seconds to play.

Foligno opened the scoring just 14 seconds after the drop of the puck, by steaming up the middle and one-timing a loose Brandon Dubinsky centering feed home.

Grigorenko tied the game at 2:25 on a shot from the right wing after a Gionta drop pass.

"We battled back, made a game of it. Can't ask for any more from these guys," Sabres head coach Ted Nolan said.

Calvert restored the hosts' edge at 9:35 with a successful try from the left circle, then Gionta's power-play strike inside of a minute left in the second knotted the game once more.