WINNIPEG, MB. – It took Dustin Byfuglien 30 games to score his first goal of the 2017-18 season. He’s now scored twice in the last three games, both times against the Buffalo Sabres.
Tuesday night in Buffalo, the Jets opened a four-game road trip with a 7-4 victory over the Sabres, the second time they’ve beaten Buffalo in the past four days. Byfuglien scored the Jets second goal as the visitors built leads of 2-1 after one period and 5-2 after two.
With the win, the Jets improved to 26-11-7 and remained in first place in the Central Division, second overall in the West and third overall in the NHL. They are now 6-0-1 in their last six games, but more telling, since their star forward Mark Scheifele injured his shoulder, the Jets have not lost in regulation time (5-0-1). Winnipeg is 7-1-2 in its last 10.
Nikolaj Ehlers and Kyle Connor each scored twice to lead the Jets. Byfuglien, Patrik Laine and Joel Armia (empty-netter) each scored single goals. Laine notched his 19th of the year while Ehlers had his 18th and 19th and Connor scored his 14th and 15th. Blake Wheeler dished out his 37th and 38th assists and Jacob Trouba had his 14th and 15th assists. Connor had a three-point night with two goals and an assist.
Jack Eichel scored twice for Buffalo while Jason Pominville and Ryan O’Reilly had the other goals. Buffalo is still last in the East with a record of 10-24-9.
The Jets outshot the Sabres 37-34. Steve Mason made 30 saves in the Jets net while Sabres starter Robin Lehner made 14 saves and his replacement Chad Johnson stopped 16.
The Jets play the second game of their four-game road trip in Chicago on Friday night. They play Saturday in Minnesota and then after the player break from Jan. 14-19, they’ll play in Calgary on Jan. 20.
Scott Taylor, Manitoba Post
Photo by James Carey Lauder