Jets’ top line returns to form to end losing skid
The Winnipeg Jets’ top line had been on the ice for a few too many goals against in the first two games of this road trip.
It was uncharacteristic for the trio, but when the Jets needed a goal in the third period Sunday afternoon against the Buffalo Sabres, it was captain Blake Wheeler who delivered.
After a shift that featured some good puck movement in the offensive zone, Mark Scheifele got the puck to the left point to Josh Morrissey and the Jets defenceman found Wheeler on the backdoor for a tap-in.
Wheeler’s 12th goal of the season turned out to be the winner as the Jets earned a 3-1 victory.
Winnipeg avoided dropping four straight for the first time since going 0-3-1 in March 2017 and upped its lead atop the Central Division standings. At 35-18-3, Winnipeg earned its 73rd point to move two ahead of Nashville after the Predators’ 5-4 overtime loss to St. Louis earlier in the day.
“It was the first time all year we’ve had to deal with that adversity,” said Wheeler. “It was something we obviously talked about before the game that this was something we haven’t gone through yet. I think there’s a lot we can be proud of with how we played.”
The Jets open a three-game homestand Tuesday against the New York Rangers.
Following a scoreless opening period, Andrew Copp provided a short-handed marker at 3:01 of the second, breaking in on a partial breakaway and beating Sabres goaltender Carter Hutton with a wrister to the glove side.
The Jets got into some penalty trouble, taking five minors during the opening 40 minutes.
Just after a slashing minor to Bryan Little had expired, Sabres captain Jack Eichel ripped a shot to the blocker side of Connor Hellebuyck — perfectly utilizing a screen by Sam Reinhart.
Hellebuyck finished with 35 saves and Scheifele put the game away with an empty-netter with 6.5 seconds to play.
Little chipped in an assist on Copp’s goal and is up to eight goals and 16 points during the past 16 games to give him 14 goals and 36 points in 56 games this season.
Although there was some question about whether Jets left-winger Brendan Lemieux would play after blocking a shot in the final minute of Saturday’s game, he answered the call and suited up against the team that drafted him.
“Other teams are getting points and moving up the standings and we’re not,” Eichel said in discounting how well the Sabres played in a game they lost. “I think the moral victories are a thing of the past at this point. We didn’t get any points and they win the game.”
Hellebuyck referred to how tight the game was as being a good test in preparing the Jets for the final stretch of the season and into playoffs.
“At the beginning of the year, we’ve been scoring a lot. And now we’re realizing if we want to win, we’ve got to play some shutdown defence,” Hellebuyck said. “I thought tonight was the way we want to play. That’s probably what the playoffs are going to be like: tight to the end.” kwiebe@postmedia.com
With files from The Associated Press