Alexander Burmistrov atones for penalty, Jets redeem themselves by beating Leafs

TORONTO - Alexander Burmistrov atoned for two bad penalties, and the Winnipeg Jets made good on their vow to respond after a clunker in Montreal.

Burmistrov scored the game-winning goal out of the penalty box to give the Jets a 4-2 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night at Air Canada Centre.

It was a much stronger effort from Winnipeg (8-4-1) after getting crushed by the Canadiens. Coach Paul Maurice didn't like his team's game Sunday, including his own performance.

The bounce back in Toronto was more than respectable. Defenceman Dustin Byfuglien, cleared by the NHL after a hearing for a hit on Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher, scored early, and Mark Scheifele also had a goal.

Ondrej Pavelec stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced in the first half of back-to-back games. The Jets visit the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.

Counterpart James Reimer had another good game in net for the Leafs (2-8-2), making 29 saves. Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau and Leo Komarov scored for Toronto.

A defensive miscue by the Leafs allowed the Jets to get on the board 3:41 in as a wide-open Mathieu Perreault found Byfuglien, who drove the net and scored his third goal of the season.

Toronto tied the score on the power play at 8:22 when a shot attempt by Tyler Bozak deflected off Jets defender Mark Stuart's stick and right to Parenteau at the side of the net.

The Jets took the lead back 37 seconds later. With the Leafs unable to get the puck in their own zone, Winnipeg played tic-tac-toe as Scheifele went top shelf over Reimer.

The lead lasted until 12:17 into the second period when, on a delayed penalty, Roman Polak carried the puck to the crease, throwing a centring pass in front. The puck banked in off Komarov's skate and in.

Burmistrov, whistled for holding and holding the stick penalties, got the puck out of the penalty box late in the third period and took advantage of it. Blake Wheeler joined him to outnumber Jake Gardiner, and Burmistrov scored with 2:05 left on a give-and-go.

Bryan Little added the empty-netter with 26 seconds left.

Notes — The Jets placed centre Andrew Copp on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and recalled centre Patrice Cormier, who was scratched. ... Antoine Bibeau backed up Reimer as Jonathan Bernier is out with a lower-body injury. ... Canadian speedskaters Marianne St-Gelais, Patrick Duffy and Charles Hamelin were in attendance to promote an upcoming World Cup event in Toronto.

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