BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Norris scored two goals and added an assist in his first game back after aggravating an injury in the season opener and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-1 on Monday night.
Norris assisted on the opening goal 2:46 into the game. He scored his first goal of the season with 5:06 remaining in the first period on a backhand shot, assisted by Zach Benson and Tage Thompson. He added a backhand shot 41 seconds into the third, assisted by Benson and Rasmus Dahlin, to give the Sabres a commanding 5-1 lead.
Bowen Byram, Jason Zucker and Alex Tuch also scored for the Sabres and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 23 saves. Benson and Josh Doan added two assists each.
The 26-year-old Norris, a first-round draft pick by the San Jose Sharks in 2017, has struggled with injuries and appeared in only his fifth game with Buffalo since being acquired in a trade last season. The Sabres are his first new team after spending parts of his first six season with the Senators. They have been waiting for him to take on a larger role, so this game could give him some much-needed momentum.
Coach Lindy Ruff said Norris’ remarkable return wasn’t something that he anticipated.
“It’s speed combined with puck support,” Ruff said. “The puck support was real good, real evident it led to goals. It was a night where we were really connective.”
Norris was injured in the season-opening 4-0 loss to the New York Rangers on Oct. 9. Monday was Norris’ sixth three-point game and his first since Jan. 30 against Washington while playing for Ottawa. That same game was the last time he also had a goal and an assist in the opening period.
Kyle Connor scored the only goal for the Jets. Starting goalie Eric Comrie allowed three goals on 14 shots in the first period. Thomas Milic came out to start the second and made 15 saves.
Up next
Jets: End a five-game road trip at Montreal on Wednesday.
Sabres: Start a six-game road trip at Philadelphia on Wednesday.