National Hockey League
Winnipeg 3, Buffalo 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, December 5, 2024
Where: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York
Referees: Kyle Rehman, Brandon Schrader
Linesmen: Jesse Marquis, Andrew Smith
Attendance: 14497

Adam Lowry scored late in overtime and the Winnipeg Jets snapped their season-worst four-game losing streak with a 3-2 road win over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

Gabriel Vilardi had a goal and an assist, Kyle Connor also scored and Connor Hellebuyck made 28 saves for Jets, who had been 3-7-0 since winning 15 of their first 16.

Lowry benefited off a two-on-none with teammate Josh Morrissey (two assists) and eventually pushed the puck past Buffalo's Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (28 saves) with 1:01 remaining in the extra session for the Jets, who also got two assists from Mark Scheifele while snapping a three-game road slide.

Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens scored first-period goals for the Sabres, who are 0-3-2 since winning seven of their previous nine. Buffalo is also amid an 0-2-2 rut at home.

Buffalo opened the scoring just 3:27 into the contest, and did so by snapping an 0-for-16 power-play drought. Somehow, Thompson was left alone in the circle and rang the post for his 14th goal of the season and third in the last two contests.

Winnipeg, though, leveled the score less than a minute later. Haydn Fleury threw the puck at the net and a passing Vilardi (10 goals) redirected a piece while screening Luukkonen who didn't see it pass by him at 4:14 of the period.

The Sabres, however, regained the lead with 8:31 remaining in the opening period. Zach Benson found a surging Cozens, who got enough of the puck to slide it by Hellebuyck.

The Jets tied it again 3:06 into the second. In the waning seconds of their own power play, Connor fired a puck that squirted past Luukkonen.

Buffalo appeared to go ahead with 2:24 left in the second period on what would have been the first career goal for Tyson Kozak, a Manitoba native who made his NHL debut Thursday. However, it was overturned via review for goaltender interference.

The Sabres played without captain Rasmus Dahlin, who is dealing with back spasms.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Winnipeg   Buffalo
Gabriel Vilardi 2 Points Dylan Cozens 1
Gabriel Vilardi 1 Goals Dylan Cozens 1
Josh Morrissey 2 Assists Zach Benson 1
Kyle Connor 1 Power Play Goals Tage Thompson 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Connor Hellebuyck .933 Save Percentage Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen .903
Connor Hellebuyck 28 Saves Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen 28
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Winnipeg 31 3 1-5 2-3 23 37
Buffalo 30 2 1-3 4-5 27 30
Upcoming Games
  • Buffalo will play their next game at home against Utah. The Sabres have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .357 after a loss.
  • Winnipeg will play their next game on the road against Chicago. The Jets have a W/L % of .789 after a win and .500 after a loss.