Norris scores twice in return, Sabres ease past Jets

BUFFALO -- Josh Norris had two goals and an assist in his return to the lineup for the Buffalo Sabres, who defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5-1 at KeyBank Center on Monday.

Norris had missed the previous 24 games after sustaining a lower-body injury in Buffalo's season opener on Oct. 9.

“I just wanted to come back and just kind of get right back in and not be a distraction,” Norris said. “I thought the guys have done a good job. They’ve been battling. We’ve had some guys out, and I know it happens across the League, but it is hard to do that when you have so many guys out. So, yeah, I just thought they did a great job up to this point, and I just wanted to come in and contribute. I’m really happy to be back.”

Josh Doan and Zach Benson each had two assists, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 23 saves for the Sabres (11-11-4), who have won four of their past six games.

“It’s speed combined with puck support. The puck support was real good,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. “We had a lot of bump back to speed that was real evident that led to goals. It was a night where we were really connected.”

Kyle Connor scored for the Jets (13-12-0), who have lost five of six. Eric Comrie allowed three goals on 14 shots before he was replaced by Thomas Milic (15 saves) at the start of the second period.

The teams will play again in Winnipeg on Friday.

“It’s pretty disappointing, that effort after playing a pretty good game in Nashville (a 5-2 win on Saturday),” Jets coach Scott Arniel said. “Obviously, three minutes into the game you’re down 2-0. We gave up nine rush chances, they scored four goals off the rush. ... Kicked ourselves on that one. We gave up all those rush opportunities and they capitalized on it.”

Jason Zucker gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead on a power play at 2:46 of the first period. Norris sent a backdoor pass to Doan, whose redirection at the edge of the crease was stopped by Comrie. However, the rebound trickled through Comrie's pads and landed in the crease, where Zucker jammed it in.

Bowen Byram scored 15 seconds later to make it 2-0. He took a cross-ice feed from Jack Quinn on a 3-on-1 rush and beat Comrie over his blocker from the left circle.

Norris pushed it to 3-0 at 14:04. He received a pass from Tage Thompson along the goal line, cut toward the net, and scored with a backhand that deflected in off the leg of Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg.

“To replace a guy like that is [almost] impossible,” Sabres forward Alex Tuch said. “He has such a high-end skill set, such a good skater. Just an unbelievable 200-foot centerman. His IQ is off the charts. He put it on full display tonight. He was unbelievable. When you miss a guy like that, it definitely hurts. It’s good to get him back.”

Connor cut it to 3-1 at 11:26 of the second period when he redirected Josh Morrissey’s one-timer from the point through Luukkonen’s five-hole.

“It’s not going to be just a flip of a switch and we’re going to all of a sudden be back playing the right way,” Connor said. “It’s going to be hard work, having our assignments, everyone doing the right job, relying on each other. If one or two guys are doing the right job, it’s not going to be good enough. We need everyone playing as five, as a unit.”

Tuch quickly responded for the Sabres to make it 4-1 at 12:49. Milic stopped his initial attempt from the right circle, but Tuch collected his own rebound along the goal line and banked a sharp-angled shot in off the goalie’s left shoulder.

Norris extended the lead to 5-1 at 41 seconds of the third period. He skated into a touch-pass from Benson before slipping a backhand five-hole on Milic on a breakaway.

“I was a little more excited for that one,” Norris said. “Just a really good play by ‘Benny,’ and yeah, at that point I think it’s 5-1, and it’s hard to come back from 5-1. So, that kind of sealed it. I was fired up for that one.”