Connor Stays Hot as Jets Cruise Past Sabres
So, here’s what went down in Winnipeg, and honestly, it felt like one of those nights where everything just clicked for the home team. The Jets picked up a confident 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres, and once again, Kyle Connor was right in the middle of it. His goal streak was stretched to four straight games, and he even added an assist to round out another standout performance. It really felt like every time he touched the puck, something dangerous was about to happen.
The opening goal came pretty early, just over four minutes into the first period. Connor’s initial shot was stopped, but the rebound bounced straight back to him in the slot. With good composure, the puck was slid underneath Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to make it 1-0. It was exactly the type of gritty, persistent play that has fueled his streak.
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Buffalo, though, didn’t disappear. Jason Zucker tied the game on a power-play scramble later in the period, jamming in a rebound from a Josh Norris one-timer. It continued his run of strong special-teams play, marking his third straight game with a power-play goal. For a moment, the Sabres seemed to regain some momentum.
But early in the second period, the Jets flipped the script again. Tanner Pearson jumped on a turnover just inside Winnipeg’s blue line, broke free on a clean breakaway, and calmly restored the lead. The building woke up after that one. Even when the Sabres were given a lifeline — like Luukkonen stopping Adam Lowry on a penalty shot midway through the period — Winnipeg kept pushing.
The moment fans loved most came late in the second. Cole Koepke, who had been searching for his first goal of the season, finally got it. He received a smooth cross-ice feed from Morgan Barron, made a slick forehand-to-backhand move, and tucked the puck around Luukkonen. It wasn’t just a goal; it was his first as a Jet, and you could feel how much it meant.
In the third period, it briefly looked like Mark Scheifele had added another when he banked in a rebound off the goalie, but the play was overturned after a video review. No problem, though — Gabriel Vilardi eventually sealed the win with an empty-netter in the final minute, giving the Jets exactly the finish they were looking for.
Winnipeg has now collected points in three of its last four games, and with Connor heating up, Koepke stepping in, and Eric Comrie delivering 34 big saves, this team is finding rhythm at the right time. Buffalo, on the other hand, continues to struggle on this road stretch, dropping four of its last six.
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