Winnipeg, Manitoba (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres put an exclamation point on a rather mixed week away from KeyBank Center.
Facing the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on Sunday, Ryan McLeod was the motor that drove the Sabres in a 5-3 victory over one of the NHL's best teams.
Near the midway point of the opening period, the Sabres took a 1-0 lead.
As he made his way out of the right corner, JJ Peterka found some open ice and wired his 22nd goal of the season. It was Peterka's third goal in as many games.
With a primary assist on the scoring play, defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker posted his first point in a Sabres sweater.
Just over two minutes into the second period, the Jets tied the score at 1-1.
On a power play, forward Nino Niederreiter's cross-crease pass attempt bounded into the Buffalo net off the skate of Beck Malenstyn.
The Sabres snagged the lead back in the late stages of the middle stanza.
Off another feed from Bernard-Docker, Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin ripped a shot past former Sabres goalie Eric Comrie for his 13th goal of the campaign.
At the 7:13 mark of the third period and while working in the late stages of a power play, Sabres forward Tyson Kozak netted a power play goal off a face off, and it came in front of friends and family in Winnipeg.
Buffalo’s multi-goal lead lasted a mere 28 seconds, though.
Down at the other end, former Sabres defenseman Colin Miller was able to skate down deep and roof the puck over goalie James Reimer to make it a 3-2 contest.
With Mattias Samuelsson in the penalty box for interference later in the frame, the Sabres’ penalty killing unit teamed up for a special shorthanded marker to extend the lead.
It started with defenseman Connor Clifton busting up a centering try on his belly in the defensive end, eventually resulting in the puck exiting the zone. There, it was gathered by McLeod, who then floated a saucer pass to winger Alex Tuch for his fourth shorthanded goal of the season.
Winnipeg wouldn't go quietly, though, and, once again, pulled to within a goal with three-and-a-half minutes to play.
Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers loaded up for a slap-shot from the left wing, and beat Reimer far-side to make it 4-3, Buffalo.
McLeod finally silenced the Winnipeg crowd with 47 seconds to play in regulation with an empty-net goal to give the Sabres a much-needed fifth goal.
The empty-net tally was the cherry on top of a career-day for McLeod. It was a four-point effort for the forward with a goal and three assists to help Buffalo to a 5-3 win.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 9:15 - JJ Peterka (22) (Jacob Bernard-Docker, Ryan McLeod)
WPG: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 18:46 - Rasmus Dahlin (13) (Jacob Bernard-Docker, Ryan McLeod)
WPG: 2:05 - Nino Niederreiter (15) PPG (Cole Perfetti)
Third Period:
BUF: 7:13 - Tyson Kozak (2) PPG (Mattias Samuelsson); 13:21 - Alex Tuch (27) SHG (Ryan McLeod, Connor Clifton); 19:17 - Ryan McLeod (17) ENG (Unassisted)
WPG: 7:41 - Colin Miller (3) (Mark Scheifele, Logan Stanley); 16:32 - Nikolaj Ehlers (23) (Logan Stanley, Dylan DeMelo)
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Three Stars of the Game:
1.) James Reimer - BUF
2.) Jacob Bernard-Docker - BUF
3.) Nino Niederreiter - WPG
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What's next:
The Sabres return home to host the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night. It will be the Sabres' first meeting with Ottawa since the two teams made their Trade Deadline Day trade involving Dylan Cozens, Josh Norris and Bernard-Docker.
Puck drop at KeyBank Center is set for 7 p.m. with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call.