Wheeler nets shootout winner as Jets beat Sabres

BUFFALO - The Winnipeg Jets were dealt some adversity on Wednesday morning, but by the end of the night, they had accomplished the goal they came into Buffalo for:
Get two points.
Even with leading scorer Kyle Connor and defenceman Nate Schmidt unavailable due to entering COVID-19 protocol earlier in the day, the Jets battled back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to pick up a 3-2 shootout win over the Sabres.
"I've said this morning and I'll say it again, we just need wins. It doesn't matter how," said Pierre-Luc Dubois. "I think we all agree that we can play better. We have to play better, but at the end of the day, we get the two points and that's what we need right now."
Captain Blake Wheeler scored once in regulation, then scored Winnipeg's third and final goal in the shootout to seal the victory.

Wheeler's clinching goal, a masterclass in stickhandling and shoulder faking right at the top of the crease in front of Buffalo's Craig Anderson, was reminiscent of the type of breakaway move that Connor would have made if he was in the line-up.
Though Wheeler, in his usual sarcastic tone, said he was channeling another NHL All-Star.

"I was thinking Patty Kane. Spitting image, right?" Wheeler grinned. "I don't really plan it before I go, just see where the goalie is at, feel him out a little bit. It worked out."
While the night ended on a high note, the first period left a little more to be desired.
The Jets misfired on a couple early scoring chances in the first period from Mason Appleton and Zach Sanford, but it would be Buffalo opening the scoring. Zemgus Girgensons' initial shot from the top of the right circle was partially blocked, but he followed it up and snapped home his ninth of the season to make it 1-0 Sabres with 5:21 to go in the first.
The visitors were outshot 13-5 in the opening period as they tried to figure out the best line combinations with Connor out of the line-up.

"They were really close to getting through the whole year without having to go through it. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be and not ideal timing, either," said Wheeler. "The good news is we've dealt with it before and we've had to deal with it and never easy to lose two guys, especially two guys of that calibre, so it was definitely a good night for guys to step up."
That was also Connor Hellebuyck's busiest period, as he made 12 of his 35 stops in the opening period.
"That's usually not the winning formula to win games but this team's resilient and we found a way," said Hellebuyck. "I think there's three periods for a reason."
Winnipeg responded 4:13 into the second, and the goal was a reward after stringing offensive zone shifts together. Dubois - stopped by Anderson on a one-timer earlier in the shift - found himself with space in front of Anderson again. This time, the Jets forward faked the shot and went to his backhand, and slid one toward the gaping cage that went off Wheeler's stick and in.
The goal was Wheeler's 11th of the season, with Paul Stastny picking up a secondary assist as he set up Dubois in the slot.

Wheeler's celebration was somewhat muted though, as he realized his deflection kept Dubois from getting his 100th career NHL goal.
"My first thought was I could have knocked that out of the net and that would have been horrible," said Wheeler. "I guess I owe Dubie one. I'll try and get him an empty-net once of these days."
The captain need not worry, though, said Dubois.
"I'm 23, I'm sure I will have time to score that (100th goal)," he said. "I didn't even know until two games ago that I was at 99. To be honest, it's not really something I think about."
Girgensons notched his second of the game just 4:11 after the Wheeler marker, as a loose puck bounced to him in the slot. The Sabres forward took advantage of the fact that Hellebuyck was already down - after shot from the point didn't get through a screen - and swept the puck around Hellebuyck's right leg an into the net for a 2-1 Buffalo lead.

With 21 seconds left in the second, the Jets pulled even again. Mason Appleton took a cross-ice pass from Nikolaj Ehlers in the Buffalo zone off the rush, and as Appleton was falling, he snapped a shot on goal from the right circle that beat Anderson under the right arm. Appleton's seventh - and his first since returning to Winnipeg just prior to the trade deadline - made it 2-2, with Ville Heinola earning the secondary assist. Heinola now has assists in each of the last four games he's played with the Jets.
"He's had some good games since he's come over," said interim hed coach Dave Lowry. "He played his game, he played straight lines. He was in on the forecheck. I liked that line. I like what they did. Nice to see him get rewarded."
With no goals in the third, the two teams battled into overtime, where the Jets were forced to kill a Dubois slashing call.

Between Hellebuyck's brilliance, and some timely blocked shots - including one by Logan Stanley on a one-timer - the Jets escaped those two minutes unscathed.
"That's key to good penalty killing. Hats off to him," Hellebuyck said, adding that 4-on-3 penalty kills are tougher than 5-on-4. "Everyone kind of gets tighter and the screens get a little worse from your own team and options are available. Everything is just a little closer, gives you less time to react."
In the shootout, Hellebuyck stopped Tage Thompson in the first round and Dubois put the Jets ahead by converting on his chance.
Mark Scheifele scored in the second round, and when Wheeler had the chance to seal it in the third round - he did exactly that.
Now, they head into Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs tomorrow night to close out the road trip.
"No doubt it's going to be a tough test. They're one of the best teams in the league," said Lowry. "We're not the only team that's played back to back this year. The biggest thing is we'll be energized and we'll be ready to start the game."