Sabres rally past Jets, 4-3
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Brian Gionta scored midway through the third period to give the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-3 comeback win over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.
Gionta's goal capped a three-goal burst by the Sabres in the third after a sluggish start to the game.
On the game-winner, Gionta skated through the crease and waited for Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck to commit to the ice before placing a wrist shot into the net.
Ryan O'Reilly, Marcus Foligno and Zemgus Girgensons also scored for the Sabres (15-15-9). Robin Lehner made 31 saves.
Nikolaj Ehlers, Drew Stafford and Joel Armia scored for the Jets (19-20-3). Hellebuyck made 32 saves.
The Jets lost star rookie Patrik Laine to injury with 5:51 left in the second period following a hard hit by Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe.
Laine remained on the ice afterwards and was eventually helped back to the locker room by Jets trainers. The nature of the injury was not immediately disclosed.
Buffalo's comeback began 5:12 into the third period on a breakaway goal by Foligno. Foligno's forehand deke cut Winnipeg's lead to 3-2.
Girgensons hit the post shortly after the ensuing faceoff and evened the score only 26 seconds later. The forward took a pass from Matt Moulson and deposited a backhand shot from close range.
It was all Winnipeg early on. Ehlers opened the scoring 4:48 into the first period on a 2-on-1 rush. Ehlers took the feed from right winger Laine and had an easy finish for his ninth goal in the past nine games.
O'Reilly evened the score just before the end of the first following a cross-ice pass by Sam Reinhart. O’Reilly's low shot went through Hellebuyck's legs with 23.4 seconds remaining in the first to make it 1-1.
Stafford made it 2-1 only 2:30 into the second period. The former Sabre drove to the net and had several quick chances in succession from short range before putting the puck home for his third goal of the year.
Winnipeg's second-period burst continued six minutes later when Armia increased its lead to 3-1. After center Adam Lowry flung the puck at the net from a hard angle, Armia buried the rebound at 7:51.
The goal came on Winnipeg's 11th shot of the period, and the Jets had an 11-0 edge in shots at the time.
NOTES: D Josh Gorges (hip), LW Johan Larsson and LW William Carrier were scratched for the Sabres. Gorges sustained the injury on Dec. 31 against Boston and played against Chicago on Thursday before sitting out again Saturday. ... D Mark Stuart and RW Chris Thorburn were scratched for the Jets. Thorburn was originally a draft pick of the Sabres and played in his first NHL game for the Sabres in December 2005. ... This was the second and final meeting between the teams this season. ... It was the fifth of eight afternoon games for the Sabres this season. Buffalo was 6-3-2 in afternoon games last season.