WINNIPEG – It was a game all Winnipeg Jets fans had circled the moment the schedule came out as a much anticipated event. It was Evander Kane’s return to the city where he was public enemy number one.
Kane was a player who had all the potential to be the man in Winnipeg but after numerous social media posts that went bad and injuries and not meeting expectations he was finally dealt last year to the Buffalo Sabres where he is trying to find his groove still.
“We had this as game No. 42 for us, the start of the second half, and we needed to come out with some energy, get two points and get off this [losing] train we were on, and get back on the winning side of things,” Kane said.
“I didn’t know what to expect. It really had no bearing on what I thought or how I played. I didn’t have a reaction to it. For me, it was another hockey game, and I’m happy we were able to get the win. … Most buildings are all the same. If you come out and get the lead, it usually quiets things down.”
This was the most talked about game for weeks leading up to Sunday. Unfortunately things didn’t go as planned as the Jets ran into another hot goalie and Sam Reinhart stole the spotlight. The Sabres took the game, 4-2, picking up their 16th win of the season.
“We’ve been scratching and clawing for a win, and at the end of the day, we get the two points, get the win, and we get to move on,” Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said.
Linus Ullmark got the start in goal and he kicked out 42 saves on 44 shots to give the Jets fits. Ullmark made numerous huge stops including more than a few off former Sabre Drew Stafford and Dustin Byfuglien. He was named the games third star.
“It has been an awesome opportunity to be here and compete with these guys,” Ullmark said. “I just got good feelings from it, and I’ve learned a lot from it.”
Sam Reinhart scored his first NHL hat trick as he scored his 10th, 11th and 12th goals including a power play marker and finishing off with an empty netter after a nice dish from Evander Kane.
“We talked about [early leads],” Reinhart said. “It has been a frustrating time not having success early in games, and we’ve been having to try to come back late in the third [period]. To get a couple [of goals] early is great for our confidence.”
Marcus Foligno got his third of the season just four minutes into the third and it proved to be the winner.
Kane who was booed every time he stepped on the ice and touched the puck finished with an assist and three shots on goal playing just under 22 minutes.
Winnipeg got goals from Blake Wheeler his 11th and Mathieu Perreault who got his seventh, a power play marker.
The Jets dominated most of the play but were once again victims of a hot goalie.
Byfuglien got the crowd going as he stepped into Kane a couple of times and Adam Lowry also laid into him for a couple of big hits.
Another former Jet, Zach Bogosian, had a strong game for the Sabres as he was solid on the backend and got a nice ovation from the Winnipeg crowd.
Connor Hellebuyck took the loss falling to 9-5-1 on the season. He stopped 25 of 28 shots.
Notes: Mark Sheifele took the warm up but was decided he couldn’t go and is day to day with a lower body injury. Anthony Peluso was inserted in the lineup for his first action in ten games. Perrault left the game with a lower body injury and the Jets will hope it’s nothing serious.
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