Winnipeg @ Buffalo preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 10, 2019 ) Winnipeg 3, Buffalo 1

The Winnipeg Jets hope to start on time Sunday when they visit the Buffalo Sabres. Winnipeg fell behind by three goals in Philadelphia on Saturday before losing 4-2 to snap a three-game winning streak, but remains in playoff position in a tight Western Conference that has only three teams completely out of contention.

"It would be fun not to be down right away every game,'' Winnipeg's Patrik Laine told reporters. "That’s something we definitely need to work on to get the opening goal. But it can’t be just that. We can’t give up if we end up giving up the first goal. We have to battle back and, hopefully, score a couple. Two wasn’t enough this afternoon. Have a new chance (Sunday in Buffalo)." The Sabres are well out of playoff contention but put together a big effort in winning at Pittsburgh 5-2 on Saturday behind a pair of goals by Jack Eichel. Buffalo's Jeff Skinner, who scored a career-high 40 goals last season, snapped a 22-game scoreless drought Saturday with his 12th of the season. "They were really celebrating," Sabres coach Ralph Krueger told the media about the club's reaction to Skinner scoring. "I mean, this group really cheers for each other. You could see the faces. Jeff’s beaming but everybody else, too, and cheering loud. So let that be the beginning of some momentum for him."

TIME: 3 p.m. ET. TV: MSG Buffalo, TSN3

ABOUT THE JETS (32-26-5): Laine scored his 26th goal of the season Saturday and has two goals and four assists in his last four games. Mark Scheifele had an assist versus Philadelphia and boasts seven of his team-leading 66 points in the last three contests. Forward Cody Eakin is expected to make his club debut Sunday after he was acquired from Vegas on Friday.

ABOUT THE SABRES (28-25-8): Eichel leads the club with 35 goals and 77 points with four scores and seven assists coming in a seven-game point streak. Sam Reinhart scored his 22nd goal of the season and had an assist versus Pittsburgh, giving him at least 50 points for the third straight season. Victor Olofsson, whose 19 goals are second among rookies in the league, was kept off the scoresheet Saturday after recording three goals and three assists during a four-game point streak.

OVERTIME

1. Buffalo D Zach Bogosian on Saturday cleared unconditional waivers and is free to sign with another team.

2. Winnipeg is 4-for-8 on the power play in its last two games and 18-for-19 on the penalty kill in the past eight contests while Buffalo is 5-for-11 with the man advantage in its last four.

3. The Jets have won three of the last four meetings after the clubs split their two-game season series in 2018-19.

PREDICTION: Jets 3, Sabres 2