Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Total Jets 1 0 0 1 Sabres 1 0 1 2
After a surprising win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, the Sabres defeated the Winnipeg Jets by a 2-1 score on Sunday at KeyBank Center.
Those two goals came from Kyle Okposo and that was all the offense the team would need, as they played sound defensively to frustrate the Jets and hold them to that one goal.
Kyle Okposo with his 2nd of the game, 2-1 #sabres50 #gojetsgo pic.twitter.com/kxSwNEBOKn
— Buffalo Hockey moments (@SabresPlays) February 23, 2020
It was a very defensive-minded game all afternoon, but especially after that second goal from Okposo. The Sabres protected that lead, and they did so very well.
The team has been playing much better of late, winning five of the last six games. It makes the 7-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators look that much worse. But, the positive thing is that the Sabres have recovered from that and defeated two great teams on back-to-back days.
Per. Time EV Goal Assist Assist 1 9:58 Kyle Okposo (8) Zemgus Girgensons (6) Henri Jokiharju (11) 1 16:37 Blake Wheeler (21) Jansen Harkins (5) Mark Scheifele (41) 3 7:47 Kyle Okposo (9) Zemgus Girgensons (7) Brandon Montour (12)
With 66 points through 62 GP, the #Sabres are at the exact same spot they were at this point last year
— 🏒 Kevin ⚾️ (@kmf418) February 23, 2020
With the win today, the Sabres are six points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs with a game in hand. Buffalo would also have to pass the Florida Panthers, who are four points ahead, and they’ll meet them once more in March.
McCabe on being in the playoff race: "That's what we've been talking about the past few years…playing in these important games down the stretch, we got our wish." #Sabres50
— Brian Koziol (@BrianWGR) February 23, 2020
A trip to the playoff remains highly unlikely, but the biggest thing that can dictate that is if the Sabres can continue to perform like this, they may actually have a shot.
They have a couple of days off to get ready for a four-game west coast trip. They’ll start with the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday as they seek revenge from a 6-1 loss earlier this month.
But before that, we will have to wait and see what Jason Botterill and the Sabres do at Monday’s Trade Deadline.
“I think we made Jason (Botterill’s) job a little bit more difficult. That’s what our goal was. We like the group we have in here.” – Sabres’ Kyle Okposo.
— John Vogl (@BuffaloVogl) February 23, 2020