Sabres at Jets
The Winnipeg Jets attempt to continue their home dominance when they host the road-challenged Buffalo Sabres on Friday. Winnipeg is beginning a brief two-game stretch at Bell MTS Place, where it has won three in a row and lost in regulation just once in its last 15 (13-1-1).
The Jets are riding a four-game point streak (3-0-1) after dropping a 3-2 overtime decision at Colorado on Tuesday. Blake Wheeler earned Winnipeg the point by scoring twice in the third period, including the tying goal with 33 seconds remaining in the third period. Buffalo kicked off its three-game road trip Thursday with a 6-2 loss at Minnesota in which it surrendered three goals in each of the first two periods before scoring two in the third. The Sabres have won only one of their last seven road contests (1-3-3) and are 5-11-6 away from the KeyBank Center this season.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, MSG Buffalo, TSN3 (Winnipeg)
ABOUT THE SABRES (10-21-9): Marco Scandella notched an assist on Thursday, giving 100 career points. The 27-year-old defenseman, who is in his first season with Buffalo after spending his first seven in the NHL with Minnesota, has recorded 11 assists in 40 games this campaign. Evander Kane scored his team-leading 16th goal on Thursday to pull even with Jack Eichel for first on the club with 35 points.
ABOUT THE JETS (23-11-7): Tobias Enstrom was a full participant in Thursday's practice for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury on Nov. 18. "He had some contact today, a little heavier contract (on Friday) and the next day," coach Paul Maurice told the team's website about the 33-year-old defenseman. "Then we'll have to see what the doctors say." Wheeler, who leads Winnipeg with 47 points, has scored four goals during a three-game streak while adding two assists on his four-game point run.
OVERTIME
1. Jets RW Patrik Laine has notched five assists during his three-game streak and is two points shy of 100 for his career.
2. Eichel has been kept off the scoresheet in two straight games after recording 11 points in his previous six contests.
3. Winnipeg D Dustin Byfuglien (lower body), whose next assist will be his 300th in the NHL, returned to the lineup Thursday after a 10-game absence.