Sabres 4, Blue Jackets 2: Zemgus Girgensons scored once and set up another tally as visiting Buffalo put up more than three goals for the first time since Dec. 15.

Cody Hodgson, defenseman Mark Pysyk and Chris Stewart netted one goal apiece as the Sabres won for only the fourth time in 25 games (4-19-2). Michal Neuvirth turned aside 45 shots in registering only his second victory since Nov. 15.

Matt Calvert and blue-liner Kevin Connauton scored for Columbus, which suffered its third straight setback (0-2-1). Rookie Anton Forsberg fell to 0-4-0 in his career with a shaky 27-save performance.

Forsberg, in his fifth career start, was handcuffed by Hodgson's seemingly harmless backhander 9 1/2 minutes into the contest before his misplay allowed Buffalo to double the lead just over five minutes later. Girgensons beat a hesitant Forsberg to the puck, cut around him and deposited a backhander into an open net while short-handed for a 2-0 advantage.

Calvert cut the deficit in half 78 seconds into the second, burying a behind-the-net pass from Brandon Dubinsky, but Pysyk restored the two-goal lead 42 seconds later with a wrister from the high slot. Stewart's blast from the left faceoff dot during a power play at the 4:30 mark boosted the lead to 4-1, but Connauton swept home a rebound from the bottom of the right circle less than three minutes later.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Girgensons, who became the first Buffalo player to notch three short-handed goals in a season since 2007-08, was hit in the foot by Columbus D James Wisniewski's shot in the second period and did not return. ... Connauton's goal was his first since Jan. 14, ending a 17-game dry spell. ... Hodgson ended a 27-game goalless drought with his first tally since Dec. 13 and third of the season.