The Sabres came out strong this afternoon against the Jets. They were willing to play up to their opponents pace and were on the Jets early. Buffalo was causing turnovers and had some good opportunities on Connor Hellebuyck early on.
Only good chances the Jets were able to get in the first period were when they were shorthanded. The Sabres did a great job for the most part throughout the night keeping the Winnipeg chances to the outside.
After first neither team was able to score.
Early in the second, the Jets penalty kill finally broke through. No, that wasn’t a typo.
After a few short handed opportunities in the first period, Andrew Copp cashed in on a breakaway for the short handed goal. The Sabres power play was an issue throughout the night failing to score on any of their five chances.
Although as one of their power plays expired in the middle of the period, Jack Eichel beat Hellebuyck with a nice shot from the face off dot to tie the game at one.
Both clubs would remain tied after 40 minutes.
In the third period both teams had chances to get the go ahead goal. Hellebuyck continued to stifle the Sabres on their scoring chances.
With under four minutes remaining, the Sabres were stuck in their own end for an extended period. Rasmus Dahlin let Blake Wheeler go as he went to the front of the net. Josh Morrissey made a nice pass and Wheeler tapped it in for the game-winning goal.
Mark Scheifele added an empty-net goal late to give the Jets a 3-1 victory and hand the Sabres a tough loss in a game they played pretty well throughout.
Final: Jets 3, Sabres 1
Shots on Goal: Sabres 36 | Jets 29
Sabres Goal Scorers: Jack Eichel (18)
Jets Goal Scorers: Andrew Copp (5) (SHG), Blake Wheeler (12), and Mark Scheifele (28) (ENG)
Three Stars of the Game
1. Connor Hellebuyck (35 saves on 36 shots)
2. Johan Larsson (3 shots on goal)
3. Blake Wheeler (1 G, 1 A GWG)