Big picture

THE Jets finish up this almost two-week adventure through Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York with a 3-2-2 record, but the consensus in the room afterward was this was a point lost. This team showed resiliency during the seven-game trip, but it also has an alarming habit of leaving Ondrej Pavelec to fend for himself for long stretches. There has been growth during the Jets' long stretch away from Winnipeg, but there is still a ton of work to do and the schedule does no favours.

Little picture

There were some iffy penalties against the Jets -- a third-period roughing penalty by Mark Stuart was the most egregious -- but this crew cannot expect to win when it is sent to the box 14 times in a game and gives up four power-play markers. Couple that with the fact the Jets surrendered 45 shots and it could be said Pavelec, despite the five against, was the team's MVP again Tuesday night.

Game-breaker

The game is tied 5-5 in OT when Blake Wheeler picks up a hooking penalty just outside the Jets' blueline. And the Sabres highlight the mistake when Thomas Vanek tips home a Jason Pominville blast for the winner.

Free Press ★★★

★ Jason Pominville, RW, Buffalo — So much to like about his game. Drew assists on the game tying and game-winning goals and added one himself.

 ★★ Bryan Little, C, Winnipeg — The sweat equity finally pays off as Little scored twice, his first two of the season, and found his offensive mojo again.

 ★★★ Derek Roy, C, Buffalo — OK, so he deserves an Oscar for the dive on the iffy Stuart call, but he’s slick and can be magical with the puck. Finished with two goals and assist, but was also a -2.

 SUMMARY

FIRST PERIOD

1. Winnipeg, Flood 2 (Glass, Slater) 4:48

2. Winnipeg, Little 1 (Wheeler, Ladd) 5:54

3. Buffalo, Roy 3 (Myers) 9:05 (pp)

4. Buffalo, Tropp 1 (Gerbe, Gaustad) 9:16

5. Winnipeg, Glass 3 (Wellwood, Oduya) 11:25

6. Buffalo, Pominville 6 (Gaustad) 13:06 (sh)

Penalties -- Burmistrov Wpg (charging) 6:39, Antropov Wpg (cross-checking) 8:47, Leopold Buf (holding) 12:25, Kane Wpg (holding) 17:39, Bogosian Wpg (hooking) 18:14.

SECOND PERIOD

7. Winnipeg, Little 2 (Byfuglien, Stapleton) 1:07 (pp)

8. Buffalo, Vanek 9 (Boyes, Roy) 15:48 (pp)

Penalties -- Gerbe Buf (holding stick) 0:30, Ladd Wpg (interference) 3:52, Glass Wpg, McCormick Buf (fighting) 8:16, Gerbe Buf (tripping) 9:08, Ladd Wpg (holding) 15:26, Adam Buf (hooking) 19:18, Kane Wpg (holding) 20:00.

THIRD PERIOD

9. Winnipeg, Byfuglien 2 (Wheeler) 0:48

10. Buffalo, Roy 4 (Pominville, Ehrhoff) 13:52 (pp)

Penalties -- Byfuglien Wpg (holding) 3:40, Myers Buf (interference) 4:04, Oduya Wpg (cross-checking) 11:14, Bogosian Wpg (high-sticking) 12:51, M.Stuart Wpg (roughing) 13:35.

OVERTIME

11. Buffalo, Vanek 10 (Pominville, Gragnani) 4:35 (pp)

Penalties -- Wheeler Wpg (hooking), Byfuglien Wpg (misconduct) 4:05.

Shots on goal by

Winnipeg 12 12 6 1 -- 31

Buffalo 19 9 14 3 -- 45

Goal -- Winnipeg: Pavelec (L,4-5-3); Buffalo: Miller (W,5-5-0).

Power plays (goals-chances) -- Winnipeg: 1-5; Buffalo: 4-12.

Attendance -- 18,690 (18,690).

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 9, 2011 C3