By Darrin Bauming (@DarrinBauming)
Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele (55) celebrates his second goal of the game in NHL action against the Buffalo Sabres at MTS Centre on Tuesday, December 16, 2014. (SHAWN COATES / CHRISD.CA)
Winnipeg Jets forward Michael Frolik (67) scores on Buffalo Sabres goaltender Michal Neuvirth (34) at MTS Centre on Tuesday night. (SHAWN COATES / CHRISD.CA)
WINNIPEG — After a bit of a rocky start, the Winnipeg Jets decided to fire up their engines and blast the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 at MTS Centre on Tuesday night with a short second period burst.
Mark Scheifele notched a pair of goals — the equalizer and the insurance — as the Jets scored three times in a span of just 4:46, with Michael Frolik recording the game-winner shorthanded.
“I had a little bit of a feeling that it was going to be a good one — it turned out to be pretty good,” said Scheifele, who now has six goals on the season. “I felt good from the start, and I think our whole line felt good from the start. We were moving the puck well. We were moving our feet.”
“It’s been a few games we have played together. We get to practice together. We’re two smart guys — it seems like we’ve been seeing each other on the ice a lot,” said Scheifele’s line mate Mathieu Perreault.
Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele (55) collides with Buffalo Sabres goaltender Michal Neuvirth (34) in NHL action at MTS Centre on Tuesday. (SHAWN COATES / CHRISD.CA)
The Sabres took advantage of Winnipeg’s early penalty trouble, and while they couldn’t capitalize on 1:50 of a 5-on-3 advantage in the first with Grant Clitsome off for interference and Adam Pardy joining him because of a high-stick, Buffalo eventually took a 1-0 lead with Blake Wheeler off for slashing.
“The stick penalties are ours,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. “But I thought the pressure we were able to put on the puck in the offensive zone was the difference in the game.”
Evander Kane scored his first goal in nine games for his fifth of the season, while Chris Thorburn added a late one for his second on the campaign. Frolik’s second period goal has him tied with Dustin Byfuglien for fourth on the team with seven.
Ondrej Pavelec recorded his 10th win of the season (10-8-4) with a 24-save performance highlighted by some solid work on a busy first period penalty kill.
The Jets improve to 16-10-6 on the season, remaining in fourth place in the Central Division with 38 points behind Chicago (45 points), St. Louis (44), and Nashville (42). Winnipeg sits five points ahead of Minnesota (33), Dallas (27), and Colorado (27).
The Jets continue their four-game home stand as they welcome the Boston Bruins on Friday night and the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.
