Sabres 5, Jets 1: Rush Defending Sinks Winnipeg Again
For the Winnipeg Jets last night in Buffalo, the game got away from them before the fans even settled into their seats. Winnipeg came in feeling good after their win in Nashville, but that feeling evaporated almost instantly. Two goals against in the opening three minutes—one on a power play rebound, the other on an odd-man rush—left the Jets chasing shadows the rest of the night. The final score was 5-1, Sabres.
From there, it turned into a familiar pattern the Jets don’t like to talk about: too many rush chances against, too many clean looks for the Sabres’ speed, and not enough resistance in the neutral zone. Eric Comrie barely had time to reset before he was out of the game, and Thomas Milic inherited a hill far too steep to climb. Even Kyle Connor’s second-period goal, a nice redirection that briefly sparked life, couldn’t slow Buffalo’s momentum.
By the time Josh Norris finished off his breakaway early in the third—his second of the night in his return—the Jets were playing for pride more than points. Buffalo was faster, more connected, and more willing to attack in waves. Winnipeg never generated the rhythm needed to fight back.
Key Point One: Another Night, Another Winnipeg Rush Problem
The Jets gave up nine rush chances and four goals off the rush. The fact is that these numbers define the outcome on their own. The gaps between forwards and defenders were too wide, exits weren’t clean, and Buffalo punched straight through.
Key Point Two: The Jets’ Goaltending Was Hung Out to Dry
Eric Comrie was pulled after three goals on 14 shots, but this wasn’t a goaltending loss. Neither he nor Thomas Milic had much help. Buffalo repeatedly came in unchecked with layers of options, and the Jets didn’t manage the puck well enough to slow anything down.
Key Point Three: Kyle Connor Tried to Spark Something, But to No Avail
Kyle Connor’s redirection gave the Jets a brief foothold, and his postgame comments hit the mark—this team needs all five skaters working together. One or two doing it right isn’t enough; that theme showed up again.
Final Thoughts from the Jets Perspective
This was a step backward after the optimism of Nashville. Winnipeg didn’t match Buffalo’s pace, and they didn’t manage the puck well enough to support their defense. It’s one thing to give up chances; it’s another to hand over rush opportunities in bunches.
Still, the blueprint for improvement is clear. Play in tighter layers, support the puck, and avoid the early letdowns that bury them before they settle in. The Jets have the skill to rebound, but they need structure to go with it.
Friday’s rematch in Winnipeg will say a lot about their resilience. Games spiral sometimes—but the Jets can’t let this become the story of their week.