The Jets put a converted touchdown up on the Sabres in Buffalo tonight. They may only needed an uncovered rugby try to get the win but those goals were probably a welcome sight for Steve Mason. The Jets backup got his 3rd win this season and while only having an .885 save percent on the night did his best given the state of the defensive play.
The highlights were the rocket wrist shot from Patrik Laine through a Kyle Connor screen to open the scoring on the PP. More came when Nik Ehlers was not to be outdone using his wrist shot to beat Lehner and chase him out of the net when he made it 3-1.
Kyle Connor wanted in on the action two and provided a filthy level of patience to out-wait Johnson and then roof it over his shoulder from close in. Both Ehler and Connor would add a goal each and with Byfuglien's second of the year and Armia's empty net goal the Jets opened their 4 game road trip on a high note.
It's doubtful that head coach Paul Maurice will see much of the game in the same positive light as the Jets were horribly sloppy in their own end. Jack Eichel had two goals against the Jets and Ryan O'Reilly had a nice PP goal pushing Myers back and going shorted on Mason.
Sure the Jets PP rolled along going 50% on the night but they also allowed 1 goal on three chances for the Sabres.
When the Jets had pushed the game to a 4-1 lead Jordan Nolan, who is doing his best to look like Brent Sopel, decided to rough up Marko Dano and gave the Jets a 4 minute PP as he served a 10 minute misconduct. That was Ehlers time to bury his second of the game and tied him with Laine for the team goal lead at 19.
Game notes
For those keeping track Dustin Byfuglien was the minute leader on defence tonight with just over 21:32.
Kyle Connor, with his 2 goals tonight is only 5 back of Ehlers and Laine on the season. Connor also led the team in points tonight with 3
Kulikov was the the only Jets defence man without a point and late in the game tried to make up for it with a long range attempt at the empty net.
Perreault is still an underrated stud who deserves far more attention than he gets but that's okay if he's still a secret around the league.
Next game is the second one of the season versus Chicago at the United Centre Friday night.