Jets 2, Sabres 1
BUFFALO -- The Winnipeg Jets jumped out to a two-goal lead, then held on for a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night at the First Niagara Center.
Bryan Little and Andrew Ladd scored for the Jets (6-8-1), who snapped a three-game losing streak. Winnipeg goalie Ondrej Pavelec made 29 saves.
Jason Pominville scored for the Sabres (6-10-1). Ryan Miller had 26 saves for Buffalo.
The Jets got on the board early thanks to a Buffalo defensive miscue. While a number of players battled for the puck behind the Buffalo net in the game's opening minute, Evander Kane gained control and fed Little, who was wide open in the slot. Little's point-blank shot gave Winnipeg a 1-0 lead at the 1:00 mark.
Another Sabres giveaway ended up with the pick in the back of the Buffalo net 5:46 into the second period.
Nathan Gerbe's breakout pass was intercepted by Winnipeg's Ron Hainsey, who fed the Jets captain Ladd for his eighth goal of the year.
Pominville got the Sabres back in the game on a 3-on-1 break late in the second period. The Sabres captain held onto the puck and fired a wrist shot past Pavelec with 21.3 seconds left in the period.
The Sabres were unable to tie the game in the third despite putting 11 shots on goal in the period, 30 in the game.
NOTES: Jordan Leopold, Mikhail Grigorenko and Andrej Sekera were scratched by the Sabres. Leopold, a nine-year veteran, has struggled on the back end this year for Buffalo and was tied for a team-worst minus-7 with teammate Tyler Myers heading into the game. ... Anthony Peluso and Zach Redmond were scratched by the Jets. ... Struggling Sabres forward Drew Stafford (one goal, six assists) began the game with a demotion to Buffalo's fourth line. He was promoted to a different line after a few shifts. ... This was the first meeting between the two teams this season. It was the 49th game all-time between Buffalo and Winnipeg. Buffalo leads the series with a 21-17-11 record. ... This was the first game in a five-game road trip for the Jets. Leading up to the road trip, the Jets lost three straight games at home.