Good Effort But Tough Loss By the Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres played well enough to win against one of the better teams in the NHL, but it came down to one play and it was the Winnipeg Jets who made to score the winning goal in a 3-1 victory over the Sabres.  The game was tied 1-1 with time winding down when the Jets' Blake Wheeler found himself alone in front to tap the puck into an open net with just 3:55 left to play.  Then with the Sabres pressing to tie it the Jets then scored into an empty net in the final minute to clinch it.

The Sabres had five chances on the power play and that could have made a difference in the game.  Jack Eichel did score just after a Winnipeg penalty expired, but although they generated some great chances they Sabres just couldn't finish it off.  One power play backfired on them though when the Jets scored a shorthanded goal to open the scoring.

Carter Hutton started in goal for Buffalo and had a good gaming with some outstanding saves and finished with 26 stops, but Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was even better with 35 saves.

The loss is the Sabres' eighth in the last 12 games and it drops their record to 2-2-1 so far on the home stand.  They host the Islanders on Tuesday night.