Wheeler lifts Jets to shootout win over Sabres

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Blake Wheeler had a goal in regulation and scored the shootout winner, Connor Hellebuyck made 35 saves and the Winnipeg Jets rallied to beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Wednesday night for their third consecutive victory.

Mason Appleton had the tying goal in regulation and the Jets got shootout goals from Pierre-Luc Dubois and Mark Scheifele to win their fifth in six games as they push for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The shootout victory followed two straight in overtime.

“We just need wins,” Dubois said. “It doesn’t matter how. I think we all agree that we can play better. We have to play better. But at the end of the day, we get the two points. And that’s what we need right now.”

Winnipeg opened a back-to-back road trip without leading scorer Kyle Connor and defenseman Nate Schmidt, after both were placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 list earlier Wednesday. Every player on the Jets’ roster has missed time because of virus protocols this season.

“That’s kind of been the story of our year, in terms of COVID and how it has affected our team,” Wheeler said. “Never easy to lose two guys, especially two guys of that caliber. So it was definitely a good night for guys to step up.”

Wheeler’s deciding goal in the shootout was the sixth of his career.

“I don’t really plan it before I go,” he said. “Just see where the goalie is at, feel him out a little bit.”

Zemgus Girgensons scored twice and Kyle Okposo had two assists for the Sabres, who have a point in seven straight games, their longest streak over the past three seasons.

“We generated a lot of chances,” Girgensons said. “Sometimes goalies make big stops. Especially in OT there, we had a golden opportunity and the goalie just came up big