WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) – Eric Comrie stopped all but one of Buffalo’s attempts, making 34 saves as the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Sabres 4-1 on Saturday night, avenging a recent road loss.
The Sabres previously defeated Winnipeg 5-1 in Buffalo on Monday.
Kyle Connor scored his team-leading 15th goal of the season, while Cole Koepke netted his first goal as a Jet after joining the team this summer. Tanner Pearson and Gabriel Vilardi also found the back of the net for Winnipeg, with Vilardi’s goal coming on an empty net.
Jason Zucker scored the lone goal for Buffalo, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 19 saves. Buffalo was playing the second contest of a six-game road trip, having lost 5-2 to Philadelphia on wednesday.
Winnipeg didn’t register a shot on goal until 4:03 of the first period, but quickly gained momentum when connor capitalized on a rebound at 4:24, surpassing Mark Scheifele for the team’s goal-scoring lead.
Zucker tied the game during Buffalo’s second power play of the first period, scoring on a rebound with 5:16 remaining.
Tanner Pearson broke the tie with a breakaway goal at 2:22 of the second period, and Cole Koepke extended the lead with a backhand goal at 18:42 of the same period.
The Sabres will continue their road trip in Calgary on Monday.The jets will travel to Edmonton on Saturday before returning home for a four-game homestand.
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