WINNIPEG – Despite spending the bulk of the game in the oppositions end, the Winnipeg Jets could only muster a single goal in a 3-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday afternoon at MTS Centre.
The Jets outshot the Sabres 38-28 but had trouble solving goalie Robin Lehner who made 37 saves to backstop the Sabres to victory.
“It’s tough.” said Jets captain Blake Wheeler. “We control a lot of the play and to be down by three goals, it kinda shoots your momentum a little bit, and I thought we did a good job of staying on it. I felt like we played a lot of that game in their end.”
The Jets fell behind by two goals in the first period as Kyle Okposo and Brian Gionta both beat Michael Hutchinson. Okposo’s second goal of the game in the second period would chase Hutchinson from the game as Connor Hellebuyck came on in relief and stopped all 13 shots he faced.
“We got out of the gate a little bit slow.” said head coach Paul Maurice. “Their guy (Lehner) played well, it was a tough game to get pucks to the net and couldn’t find a handle on them. A lot of pucks laying around that we didn’t get to that second chance.”
Nikolaj Ehlers scored the Jets only goal after being promoted back to his old spot on the top line alongside Wheeler and Mark Scheifele.
“Their goalie was good but we had some good chances that we could of put in.” said Ehlers. “But it bounced off our stick or whatever, but hopefully next game they go in.”
Patrik Laine finished the game playing on a line with Mathieu Perreault and Kyle Connor. Laine had four shots on goal but also had three giveaways and he pointed at the team’s slow start for their downfall on Sunday.
“We weren’t playing pretty well those two periods.” said Laine. “Of course it’s frustrating when you aren’t playing your game. Have to be better in the next game.”
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The Sabres opened the scoring just past the midway mark of the first period. Okposo’s first shot was blocked by Toby Enstrom. But the puck bounced right back to Okposo and he deposited the shot in the top corner behind Hutchinson. Zemgus Girgensons and Jake McCabe picked up the assists on Okposo’s third goal of the season.
A little over two minutes later the Sabres extended their lead. Brian Gionta brought the puck all the way up the ice into a Sabres 2-on-1. Hutchinson made the save on the first shot but he couldn’t corral the loose puck and Gionta whacked in his own rebound. His third goal of the season was unassisted and Buffalo was ahead by two after the opening period. The Sabres had the advantage in shots up 9-8 through one period.
The Sabres would cling to the two goal lead for much of the second period. Then with six minutes left in the middle frame, Okposo came skating down the wing and beat Hutchinson under his arm on the blocker side. Okposo with his second goal of the game and fourth of the season. Cody Franson and Ryan O’Reilly drew the assists as the Sabres went ahead by three. Hutchinson was pulled from the game in favour of Hellebuyck after allowing three goals on just 15 shots.
Five minutes into the final frame the Jets finally solved Lehner. Wheeler’s point shot ricocheted off the end boards right to Ehlers and he lifted it into the open side. It was Ehlers’ second goal of the season. Dustin Byfuglien also had an assist and it was 3-1.
The Jets pulled their goalie for the extra attacker but couldn’t get another puck behind Lehner. Winnipeg finished the game 0-for-6 with the man advantage.
Josh Morrissey had to be helped to the dressing room midway through the third period after he took a shot off his knee. But he returned a short time later.
Wheeler left the game temporarily late in the second period after taking a shoulder to the head from Rasmus Ristolainen. He returned to start the third period and after the game Wheeler said he was “alright”.
Ristolainen also knocked Chris Thorburn out of the game for a short time in the third period as he sent Thorburn crashing into the boards. Thorburn would also return after a short trip to the dressing room.
Tyler Myers did not play after he suffered a lower body injury in the win over the Colorado Avalanche. Maurice said he’s day to day. Drew Stafford also sat out and the head coach indicated Stafford will also miss their next game as well.
The Jets conclude their mini two game homestand on Tuesday when they welcome the Washington Capitals to MTS Centre.
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