Josh Norris returned from a 24-game absence and powered the Buffalo Sabres to a 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night at KeyBank Center.
Norris, playing for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury on opening night, scored twice and added an assist to pace a Sabres team that has now won four of its last six. Josh Doan and Zach Benson each contributed two assists, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 21 shots to help Buffalo improve to 11-11-4.
Buffalo set the tone early. Jason Zucker opened the scoring on a power play just 2:46 into the first period, jamming in a loose puck after Norris created pressure at the crease. Bowen Byram doubled the lead 15 seconds later, finishing a 3-on-1 rush off a cross-ice feed from Jack Quinn. Norris made it 3-0 later in the period, cutting to the net and banking a backhand off a defender.
Winnipeg briefly clawed back when Kyle Connor redirected a point shot midway through the second, but the Sabres answered quickly. Alex Tuch restored the three-goal cushion less than 90 seconds later, tracking down his own rebound and banking a sharp-angled shot past Thomas Milic.
Norris capped his standout night 41 seconds into the third, slipping behind the defense to convert a breakaway set up by Benson.
Next, the Sabres begin a six-game road trip on Wednesday in Philadelphia against the Flyers with puck drop set for 7:30 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].