Lehner will have another shot at the Jets when he returns to the net for the Sabres at KeyBank Center on Saturday afternoon. Lehner has sat for the last two games in favor of Anders Nilsson, but will get the nod as Buffalo looks to sweep its season series with Winnipeg for the second season in a row.
The Jets, meanwhile, will be looking for their third win in a row, a feat they have not yet reached this season. Winnipeg is led by Mark Scheifele and Laine, who have scored 36 points apiece this season. Laine's total (21+16) puts him one point ahead of Toronto's Auston Matthews for the NHL rookie lead.
"What we remember and kind of what you see form them is they're an aggressive team, a fast team, a team that can catch you in a lot of different ways and areas," Sabres coach Dan Bylsma said. "They can play two different ways. They can play with a lot of speed or they can play a heavy game as well. They're a little bit unpredictable with how they can come at you."
William Carrier will miss his second straight game for the Sabres due to an illness. Justin Falk will return to the lineup on defense after sitting as a healthy scratch in Chicago on Thursday with Taylor Fedun instead sitting as the seventh defenseman. Bylsma said he favored the size of Falk against a physical Winnipeg team.
Coverage on Saturday begins at 12:30 p.m. with the Tops Pregame Show on MSG-B, or you can listen live on WGR 550. The puck drops between the Sabres and Jets at 1 p.m.
