Jhonas Enroth did his best to ruin Winnipeg’s playoff chances. The Jets continue to soar, however.
Enroth made 37 saves but needed one more as the Buffalo Sabres dropped a 2-1 decision Monday night in relatively barren First Niagara Center. The announced crowd of 18,654 appeared several thousand below that.
Winnipeg pulled within one point of the eighth-place New York Rangers and division-leading Washington Capitals by improving to 6-0-1 in the last seven games. Buffalo dropped its second straight and first since being eliminated from postseason contention.
The Jets broke a 1-1 tie with 7:36 to play. James Wright dropped a pass to Antti Miettinen above the right faceoff circle, and his shot through traffic glanced off Enroth and went under his arm.
The Sabres took 11 of their 25 shots during the final period, but they couldn’t get the tying goal.
Enroth started in place of Ryan Miller for the third time in five games, and the usual backup has appeared in five of the last six outings. Enroth returned to the ice March 7 after a monthlong benching, and he entered Monday with a 4-1-1 record, 1.98 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in those games.
With the Jets eager to stay in the playoff race, they kept Enroth busy. Winnipeg took eight of the opening 10 shots and 12 of 15 en route to a 15-4 first period.
The Jets’ top chance came on a penalty shot with 5:01 left. Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekera slid and knocked down Evander Kane, the Jets’ third-leading scorer, on a breakaway.
Enroth got a piece of the glove-side shot, which flipped in the air and bounced off the top of the crossbar before fluttering to safety. Enroth improved to 1 for 2 on penalty shots in his career. Washington’s Jason Chimera scored on him Nov. 26, 2011.
The goaltender’s glove shined several times during the opening period. He gloved a point-blank shot by Alexander Burmistrov just 2:32 in, and Enroth peeked around a screen with 6:47 left to snare Bryan Little’s attempt.
Though the Sabres had just four shots — split equally with two in the opening 10 minutes and two in the second half — they had a golden opportunity.
Tyler Ennis skated away cursing his luck with 2:34 after Cody Hodgson set him up at the side of the Jets’ net. Ennis, who had just one goal in the previous 14 games, dinged the post instead of hitting the gaping net.
After making 21 saves to open the game, Enroth finally had a puck fly by him. Derek Meech carried along the left boards and spotted Aaron Gagnon alone at the top of the crease. He deflected the pass over Enroth with 7:52 gone in the second.
The Sabres’ power play struck for the fourth straight game four minutes later. Just 19 seconds after Blake Wheeler trucked to the penalty box, Thomas Vanek scored his 18th goal, including his ninth on the power play.
Drew Stafford zipped a pass across the ice to Ennis, and the forward set up Vanek in the slot. Buffalo’s leading scorer chipped the puck over Ondrej Pavelec for the power-play unit’s sixth goal in four games.
Enroth sent the teams into the second intermission deadlocked at 1-all with a no-look save. Dustin Byfuglien’s blast rung the post, starting a goal-mouth scramble. Andrew Ladd gained control in the slot.
Enroth had his back turned, but he swung his right arm around to get his elbow on the shot and earn a partial standing ovation with 4:30 to go.
Steve Ott got all the fans on their feet with 25.1 seconds left. Ladd crushed Christian Ehrhoff and appeared to jump while doing so. Ott picked a fight with the Jets’ captain.
The Sabres play again tonight in Pittsburgh. The game was scheduled for Saturday, but the manhunt for the Boston marathon bombers pushed the meeting back after the Penguins and Bruins had their schedule altered over the weekend.
email: jvogl@buffnews.com
Enroth made 37 saves but needed one more as the Buffalo Sabres dropped a 2-1 decision Monday night in relatively barren First Niagara Center. The announced crowd of 18,654 appeared several thousand below that.
Winnipeg pulled within one point of the eighth-place New York Rangers and division-leading Washington Capitals by improving to 6-0-1 in the last seven games. Buffalo dropped its second straight and first since being eliminated from postseason contention.
The Jets broke a 1-1 tie with 7:36 to play. James Wright dropped a pass to Antti Miettinen above the right faceoff circle, and his shot through traffic glanced off Enroth and went under his arm.
The Sabres took 11 of their 25 shots during the final period, but they couldn’t get the tying goal.
Enroth started in place of Ryan Miller for the third time in five games, and the usual backup has appeared in five of the last six outings. Enroth returned to the ice March 7 after a monthlong benching, and he entered Monday with a 4-1-1 record, 1.98 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in those games.
With the Jets eager to stay in the playoff race, they kept Enroth busy. Winnipeg took eight of the opening 10 shots and 12 of 15 en route to a 15-4 first period.
The Jets’ top chance came on a penalty shot with 5:01 left. Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekera slid and knocked down Evander Kane, the Jets’ third-leading scorer, on a breakaway.
Enroth got a piece of the glove-side shot, which flipped in the air and bounced off the top of the crossbar before fluttering to safety. Enroth improved to 1 for 2 on penalty shots in his career. Washington’s Jason Chimera scored on him Nov. 26, 2011.
The goaltender’s glove shined several times during the opening period. He gloved a point-blank shot by Alexander Burmistrov just 2:32 in, and Enroth peeked around a screen with 6:47 left to snare Bryan Little’s attempt.
Though the Sabres had just four shots — split equally with two in the opening 10 minutes and two in the second half — they had a golden opportunity.
Tyler Ennis skated away cursing his luck with 2:34 after Cody Hodgson set him up at the side of the Jets’ net. Ennis, who had just one goal in the previous 14 games, dinged the post instead of hitting the gaping net.
After making 21 saves to open the game, Enroth finally had a puck fly by him. Derek Meech carried along the left boards and spotted Aaron Gagnon alone at the top of the crease. He deflected the pass over Enroth with 7:52 gone in the second.
The Sabres’ power play struck for the fourth straight game four minutes later. Just 19 seconds after Blake Wheeler trucked to the penalty box, Thomas Vanek scored his 18th goal, including his ninth on the power play.
Drew Stafford zipped a pass across the ice to Ennis, and the forward set up Vanek in the slot. Buffalo’s leading scorer chipped the puck over Ondrej Pavelec for the power-play unit’s sixth goal in four games.
Enroth sent the teams into the second intermission deadlocked at 1-all with a no-look save. Dustin Byfuglien’s blast rung the post, starting a goal-mouth scramble. Andrew Ladd gained control in the slot.
Enroth had his back turned, but he swung his right arm around to get his elbow on the shot and earn a partial standing ovation with 4:30 to go.
Steve Ott got all the fans on their feet with 25.1 seconds left. Ladd crushed Christian Ehrhoff and appeared to jump while doing so. Ott picked a fight with the Jets’ captain.
The Sabres play again tonight in Pittsburgh. The game was scheduled for Saturday, but the manhunt for the Boston marathon bombers pushed the meeting back after the Penguins and Bruins had their schedule altered over the weekend.
email: jvogl@buffnews.com