Brian Gionta scores the game-winning to complete the come-from-behind win.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Down 3-1 entering the third period, the Buffalo Sabres struck for 3 goals to pull out a 4-3 victory over the Winipeg Jets on Saturday afternoon at the KeyBank Center.
Brian Gionta scored the game-winning goal 9:54 into the third stanza. The Greece native and team captain skated toward the goal from the left circle and held the puck before taking a shot from the right circle that got past Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. It was his 8th goal of the season and was his team-high fifth shot on net.
Marcus Foligno scored his seventh goal of the season on a breakaway after a pass from Cody Franson 5:12 into the third period when he slipped a backhand shot past Hellebuyck for a 3-2 lead.
Zemgus Girgensons tied the game 26 seconds later when he put a rebound of a shot by Matt Moulson past Hellebuyck for his fifth goal. Gionta’s goal came 4:16 later.
Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly made it 1-1 with 24 seconds left in the first period. O’Reilly received a pass from Sam Reinhart for his eighth goal of the season.
Jets rookie forward Patrik Laine left the game in the third period and did not return after taking a hit from Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe 5:51 into the third period. Laine was skating in the neutral zone when he was hit high by McCabe. Laine remained on the ice before he was assisted by trainers to the locker room.
Gionta also was on the ice in the final seconds as the Jets pulled their goalie, despite the faceoff being in the Winnipeg zone. The Jets controlled the puck and rushed into the Buffalo end. They were unable to get the tying tally past Robin Lehner, who finished with 32 saves.
As the final horn sounded, there was a scramble and pushing in the crease. Lehner got his glove in the face of a Jet player. Gionta was in the middle of the scrumb as another Jet started throwing punches at Lehner. Gionta was able to get a couple of shots in on him as both were hanging on to the cage.
The Sabres (15-15-9) have won two of the past three games.