Jack Eichel scores twice for Buffalo in the 7-4 loss to Winnipeg.
By Joe Yerdon / NHL.com Correspondent
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Kyle Connor had two goals and an assist, Nikolaj Ehlers scored twice, and the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Buffalo Sabres 7-4 at KeyBank Center on Tuesday.
Mathieu Perreault, Jacob Trouba, and Blake Wheeler each had two assists for the Jets (26-11-7) who have won three straight and are 6-0-1 in the past seven games.
Jack Eichel had two goals and an assist for the Sabres (10-24-9) who have lost five straight (0-4-1).
The Jets led 2-1 after the first period on goals from Patrik Laine (6:43 on the power play) and Dustin Byfuglien (15:40) around a goal by Eichel at 14:51.
Laine’s goal was his 100th NHL point in his 117th game. He is the second-fastest player in Jets/Thrashers history to reach the milestone, behind Dany Heatley (113 in 2001-02). Among Finland-born NHL players, Laine is the fourth fastest to 100 points, behind Teemu Selanne (68), Jari Kurri (100) and Christian Ruuttu (114).
Ehlers made it 3-1 at 1:26 of the second period after his shot from near the boards in the right face-off circle beat Robin Lehner up high. Chad Johnson replaced Lehner after Ehlers’ 18th goal of the season. Lehner made 14 saves; Johnson made 16.
Connor’s first goal made it 4-1 at 12:49, and was followed by Ehlers’ second goal, which made it 5-1 at 15:42. Connor made it 6-2 at 7:08 of the third, his 15th of the season.
Jason Pominville’s first goal since Dec. 8 (13 games) made it 6-3 at 8:31 when he banked a shot at the side of the net off Steve Mason and into the net. Mason made 30 saves in his first start since Dec. 23.
Eichel brought the Sabres within 6-4 at 14:53, but Joel Armia scored into an empty net at 18:55 to make it 7-4.
Rookie Brendan Guhle made his season debut for the Sabres against the Jets Tuesday night after being called up from the Rochester Americans. It was the young defenseman’s fourth NHL game, following a three-game stint with the club on an emergency recall last season.