Blue Jackets 4, Sabres 1: Marian Gaborik had a goal and two assists as Columbus extended host Buffalo's season-opening winless streak to five games.

Nick Foligno, Cam Atkinson and Brandon Dubinsky also scored for the Blue Jackets, who rode a three-goal first period to their first win in Buffalo since Nov. 14, 2008. Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 26 shots to preserve the victory.

Thomas Vanek had the lone goal for the Sabres (0-4-1), who have scored just five times in as many games. Ryan Miller made 29 saves in defeat.

After Atkinson and Vanek traded goals within the first nine minutes, the Blue Jackets took over to put the game away. Foligno put Columbus ahead at 16:35 of the opening period when his attempted centering pass glanced off the skate of a Sabres defenseman and past Miller. Gaborik made it 3-1 just 2:13 later after slapping home a feed from Atkinson to finish off a 2-on-1 break.

Dubinsky extended the lead 2:11 into the second with a backhand from the hash marks that eluded Miller. Bobrovsky made the lead stand, stopping all 16 shots he faced over the final 40 minutes.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Sabres D Mike Weber was a minus-4 in the game and is ranked last in the NHL at minus-8. Fellow D Tyler Myers was a minus-3 to drop to minus-7 on the season. ... As his brother Marcus watched from the Buffalo bench, Foligno fought Weber 7:32 into the second period. Marcus Foligno finished with a minus-1 rating. ... Buffalo RW Drew Stafford, who had 20 goals and 30 assists two seasons ago, is still looking for his first point of the season.