Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550/WBEN) - It was a huge return to the Buffalo Sabres lineup for center Josh Norris, who scored two goals and added an assist in a dominant 5-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres wasted little time capitalizing on a power play chance just minutes into the game.
After Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo was called for holding less than two minutes into the game, an initial shot from Norris was stopped by former Sabres goalie Eric Comrie, but the puck was laying in the crease for a rebound. It was winger Jason Zucker who found the loose puck and jammed home his seventh goal of the season.
The assist for Norris came in his first game back in the lineup since suffering an upper-body injury in the first game of the season against the New York Rangers.
Just 15 seconds later, defenseman Bowen Byram joined an odd-man rush and doubled Buffalo's lead to two goals.
Norris ended up scoring his first goal of the season later in the first period to extend the Sabres' advantage to three goals.
Tage Thompson and Zach Benson were able to register the assist, as the trio comprised the Sabres' top line on Monday night.
Winnipeg was able to get a goal in the second period with a player right in front of the Buffalo net for a deflection.
Jets winger Kyle Connor scored his 13th goal of the year after forward Mark Scheifele took a shot toward the net, and the goal trimmed the Buffalo lead to 3-1.
However, just over a minute later, winger Alex Tuch restored the three-goal advantage with his ninth goal of the season. It came on a second chance opportunity after his initial shot was stopped by Thomas Milic, who came in to replace Comrie to start the middle frame.
Josh Doan was credited with the lone assist on the goal that came with just over seven minutes remaining in the second period.
Norris' second goal and third point of the game came less than a minute into the third period. Benson made the pass at center ice that helped spring the centerman on a partial breakaway.
Benson and Dahlin received the assists on the goal that made the score 5-1 in favor of Buffalo.
From there, the Sabres continued to match the Jets in play and energy, which included some rough stuff towards the end of the contest. A clean open-ice hit by forward Peyton Krebs resulted in a Winnipeg response.
In the end, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen turned away 23 of 24 shots faced to help secure Buffalo a 5-1 win.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 2:46 - Jason Zucker (7) PPG (Josh Doan, Josh Norris); 3:01 - Bowen Byram (5) (Jack Quinn, Connor Timmins); 14:54 - Josh Norris (1) (Tage Thompson, Zach Benson)
WPG: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 12:49 - Alex Tuch (9) (Josh Doan)
WPG: 11:26 - Kyle Connor (13) (Josh Morrissey, Mark Schiefele)
Third Period:
BUF: 0:41 - Josh Norris (2) (Zach Benson, Rasmus Dahlin)
WPG: NONE
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Josh Norris - BUF
2.) Josh Doan - BUF
3.) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres open a six-game road trip on Wednesday with a stop to Philadelphia to take on the Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Faceoff is slated for 7:30 p.m., and the only place to hear Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray's call of the game is on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog starts at 6:30 p.m.