Jets grounded by Capitals in interim coach Dave Lowry's debut
Paul Maurice suddenly announced his resignation on Friday morning
The Washington Capitals spoiled the debut for new Jets coach Dave Lowry on Friday night.
Centre Michael Sgarbossa and forward Alex Ovechkin salted the victory away with empty-net goals during the last 2:40 of the game as Washington beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-2.
Lowry, Winnipeg's former assistant coach, was promoted to interim head coach when Paul Maurice suddenly announced his resignation on Friday morning.
Caps goaltender Vitek Vanecek robbed several Jets players as he made 40 saves on 42 shots before 14,039 fans at the Canada Life Centre.
Brett Leason, Daniel Sprong and Conor Sheary also scored for Washington (18-5-7).
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"Vitek was really good," said Washington coach Peter Laviolette. "I thought the first period, we did the right things, we came out with the right mindset. They [Jets] pushed hard in the second period and that's when I think Vitek was at his best.
"Then I thought we reset going out for the third period. We played really smart, much more on the attack in the third period and really doing a better job."
Sheary, who scored the winner midway through the third, credited Vanecek for sparking the squad.
"He kept us in it in the second and, in the third, made the saves he needed to," he said. "And we were able to bury the game-winner. It gives us a big boost on the bench when he's making saves and doing that stuff and keeping us in the game. So, kudos to him."
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Brenden Dillon and Josh Morrissey replied for Winnipeg (13-11-5). Netminder Connor Hellebuyck made 34 saves on 37 shots.
"It was obviously a pretty emotional day," Dillon said of the coaching change. "For us, trying to get going for tonight, that first period, we were maybe a little bit just kind of in the moment of everything going on, but as the game went on, we got better."
But Vanecek stoned them.
"It is frustrating," Lowry said. "But I think the big thing is, you look at it, that there are bounces, but you try to learn from those. You know, you put pucks at the net, you put bodies at the net and usually good things happen."
'It's been a whirlwind'
Lowry admitted that he was taken aback by Maurice's announcement.
"For myself, it came out of the blue," he said. "I first had a conversation [Thursday] night with [Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff], that was the first that I had any inkling that something was going on. And yes, it was a surprise."
The Jets will host the St. Louis Blues on Sunday afternoon, then embark on a two-game road trip.
The Caps will return to host the L.A. Kings on Sunday, the first of a two-game homestand.
Subban makes incredible save against Penguins
Malcolm Subban made a spectacular save in the first period of the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 OT defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.
Evan Rodrigues set a career high when he scored his 10th goal of the season in the first period but should have had an 11th when a rebound found its way to his stick as he stood on the doorstep.
Rodrigues tried to flick it into the open net only to have Subban reach behind his body with his glove hand to redirect it out of harm's way.
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Pittsburgh challenged the play, believing the puck had crossed the goal line. An extended review only highlighted the most remarkable of Subban's career-high 45 saves.
"I honestly didn't even know it happened," said Subban after his second start with the Sabres following a trade with Chicago earlier this month. "I thought someone hit my glove or something. I didn't know it was the puck. I had no idea."
Neither did Sullivan, Brock McGinn — who scored his third goal in four games in the second period — or Rodrigues, who was caught talking to himself after making his way to the bench after getting stoned by Subban.
"I don't think he meant to save that," Rodrigues said. "He was just pushing over kind of leading with his blocker and his arm was kind of trailing behind him. You want to see that one go in but the goalie made a good save."
