Game 62: Let's talk it out

The Buffalo Sabres dropped a 5-2 decision to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday after they entered the third period with a 2-1 lead.

BUFFALO — A lot might get made of how the Buffalo Sabres’ 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday night was their first loss when leading after two periods in an eternity, but if anything proved to be true it’s that a one-goal lead against one of the best teams in the NHL is never at all safe.

The Sabres showed a lot of what’s made them good since the start of the new year. There was a brilliant power play goal from JJ Peterka after each player on the ice touched the puck before he teed up a one-timer on a pass from Kyle Okposo.

For the second night in a row, Eric Robinson played outstanding in his role and was rewarded with a goal after a great set of plays from Zemgus Girgensons and Peyton Krebs.

Even Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen played well in making a start in back-to-back nights for the first time since he was with the Rochester Americans. Unfortunately, bad luck and misfortune tag-teamed him on the first two goals he gave up to Nino Niederreiter and Josh Morrissey and Morgan Barron dogpiled with a laser of a shot past him. The latter two of those goals coming in a four-goal third period for Winnipeg.

It just wasn’t their night.

“You either find a way to fight through it or find a way to be more efficient,” Sabres coach Don Granato said. “I don’t think we pressured pucks enough. And when we didn’t, we weren’t smart enough filling the right areas. We were on occasion early and throughout the game, but the last 10 minutes, obviously the dam broke there. In the sense of we lost playing efficient.”

Wrapping up a night which turned into yet another missed opportunity for the Sabres.