The Winnipeg Jets scored four goals in the third period to beat the Buffalo Sabers 5-2 on Sunday night at KeyBank Center.
In doing so, the Manitoba club prevented their rivals from winning for the third time in a row, and the second time in less than two weeks.
The game of the day came in the third period when the Jets' persistence finally paid off. Ten minutes before the end of regular time, Josh Morrissey equalized the score. Morgan Barron then gave the visitors the lead with his tenth goal of the season. Vladislav Namestnikov and Sean Monahan ended the Sabres' hopes by hitting the target into an empty net.
Nino Niederreiter was the Jets' first scorer as he equalized for the first time in the first period.
The Sabres' success was due to the bats of JJ Peterka and Eric Robinson. The first reached the plateau of 20 goals this season. This is a first for someone who is only playing his second season in the National League.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was challenged 33 times in front of the Sabres' net. At the other end of the ice, Laurent Brossoit stopped 18 of the crowd favorite's 20 shots.
Getty Images via AFP
Kirill Kaprizov beats the Sharks
At the Xcel Energy Center, Kirill Kaprizov scored a hat trick in the Minnesota Wild's 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks.
The Russian scored his team's last three goals, two of them in the third period. It was his third hat trick of the season and the fifth time he achieved the feat in his career on the Bettman Tour.
The Wild's other scorer was Quebec native Frédérick Gaudreau, while the Sharks' response was the work of Mikael Granlund, Nico Sturm and Anthony Duclair.
It is the seventh defeat in a row for the Californian team. The Wild, for their part, ended a three-game losing streak.