Kyle Okposo scores twice to lead Buffalo Sabres past Winnipeg Jets 3-1

“I do think we have to have learned a lesson from the Philadelphia game,” he said.

Penalty killing was a big part of the win, with the Sabres giving up six power plays to Winnipeg’s one, including two in the third period when the Jets attempted a comeback.

Okposo came out of the penalty box in the first, then regained control of his own blocked shot at 10:51, driving it over the shoulder of Jets netminder Michael Hutchinson to get things started.

Brian Gionta made it 2-0 on a loose puck less than two minutes later in the first, and at 13:59 of the second Okposo beat Hutchinson again, this time high on his stick side, to make it 3-0.

That was enough for Jets coach Paul Maurice, who replaced him with Connor Hellebuyck.

“It is what it is,” Hutchinson said. “You try and help the team win. It doesn’t matter who is in the net every given night.”

Nikolaj Ehlers finally scored for Winnipeg at 4:49 of the third.

Sunday was the fourth game in six days for the Jets (4-5-0) but they had a day off after back to back wins — including a 1-0 shutout against Colorado on Friday when Hutchinson posted his first shutout of the season.

Lehner was impenetrable through two periods, although the Sabres (3-3-2) gave up four power plays to the Jets through the first 40 minutes.

“Obviously their goalie was good but we had some good chances that we could have put in,” Ehlers said. “Hopefully the next game they go in.”

Winnipeg stayed out of the penalty box until early in the third but Buffalo had trouble getting off a shot on the ensuing man advantage until there were only a few seconds left.

The Jets and Sabres pulled off a major trade last season, but only two players involved in that deal were on the ice Sunday.

Winnipeg acquired forwards Drew Stafford and Joel Armia, defenceman Tyler Myers, plus draft picks last February for forward Evander Kane, defenceman Zach Bogosian and goaltender Jason Kasdorf.

Stafford, Myers and Kane all sat out with injuries.

Both teams get a day off Monday before the Jets host the Washington Capitals and Buffalo visits the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night.

Scott Edmonds, The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version misspelled the first name of Nikolaj Ehlers and last name of Connor Hellebuyck

by Canadian Press

Kyle Okposo scores twice to lead Buffalo Sabres past Winnipeg Jets 3-1

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