The Sabres allowed two goals in the first 2:15 of their game against the Wild, and ultimately trailed 6-0 before they were able to tack on a pair of third-period goals from Sam Reinhart and Evander Kane. The source of their problems, Housley said, stemmed from their coverage in the defensive zone.
"It's just having the respect from our goaltender out," Housley said. "Playing good defense, especially coming back into our zone, sorting things out. Taking away zone one. We allowed too many opportunities for Minnesota to find zone one. That's uncharacteristic of the way we play.
"It's unfortunate that it had to happen so we addressed these things today. We've got to play tighter defensively."
The Jets enter the night ranked fourth in the NHL with 3.29 goals per game. Second-year forward Patrik Laine leads the team with 18 goals, while captain Blake Wheeler ranks eighth in the NHL with 47 points (13+34). It's culminated into a 23-11-7 start, placing them second in the Central Division.
"There's a lot of things that we have to focus on," Housley said. "Number one, it's coming back into our zone as a five-man unit, working to get back, trying to buy time for our D … so our D are able to get the puck and get their eyes up the ice and then get it through the neutral zone."
Chad Johnson will start in net for the Sabres after stopping all 10 of the shots he faced in a period of relief on Thursday. He's 2-1-2 in his career against Winnipeg with a .944 save percentage and a 1.56 goals-against average.
Johnson will be opposed by Connor Hellebuyck in net for Winnipeg, who is unbeaten in regulation in his last seven games (5-0-2). Hellebuyck has posted a 1.82 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage in that span.
Coverage on Friday begins at 7:30 p.m. with GMC Gamenight on MSG-B, or you can listen live on WGR 550. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m.
