It might be the start of the holiday season, but the Winnipeg Jets sure aren’t feeling festive these days.
Following a drubbing at the hands of the basement-dwelling Buffalo Sabres, Jets captain Adam Lowry initiated a closed-door players meeting, Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg News reported on Monday.
The Jets lost 5-1 in Buffalo Monday night, capping off a one-month stretch in which the reigning Presidents’ Trophy champions had just five wins in 14 games since Nov. 1.
Per McIntyre, Jets head coach Scott Arniel called his team’s performance “embarrassing.”
Kyle Connor added: “Everybody’s got to be a lot better. Keep it at that.”
The Jets dug themselves an early hole against the Sabres, surrendering goals to Jason Zucker, Bowen Byram and Josh Norris — playing for the first time since an Oct. 9 injury — to face a three-goal deficit after the first 20 minutes.
Kyle Connor cut the lead down to two midway through the second period, only to see Alex Tuch restore the three-goal lead less than two minutes later. Norris scored his second of the night, and the final dagger to the Jets, in the third period.
With reigning Hart Trophy champion Connor Hellebuyck injured, Eric Comrie got the start between the pipes, but was pulled after allowing three goals on 14 shots and finished with a .786 save percentage.
Thomas Milic came out for the final 40 minutes, allowing two goals on 17 shots in just his second NHL game.
The Jets will have the chance to right the ship in Montreal Wednesday, when they take on the upstart Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. CT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+). They will then return home on Friday for a rematch with the Sabres.
