ame after suffering a partial tear in the

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WINNIPEG -- Al Montoya spent 2013 as Winnipegs backup goaltender, but hes making a strong push for the starting job in the second half of the season. Montoya made 27 saves for the shutout as the Jets defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-0 on Tuesday. Keaton Ellerby, Jacob Trouba and Anthony Peluso were the goal scorers as Montoya picked up his second shutout of the season and the Jets won their third straight game, matching their season-high. "For me its just about doing the right things in practice and working hard," said Montoya, who didnt offer an opinion on whether he deserved No. 1 status. The netminder won his sixth consecutive decision, and upped his record to 8-2-1. It was Montoyas second straight start for the Jets after coming on in relief of regular starter Ondrej Pavelec in the first period of a game last week against Minnesota. "Im fully aware of what Al Montoyas doing and how hes playing," said Jets coach Claude Noel. "He played very well again tonight. Youve got to give him full credit. You cant lose sight of the fact that Pavelecs our starting goalie." Sabres backup Jhonas Enroth got his 12th start of the season, and handed the Jets (19-18-5) the lead when a weak point shot from Ellerby snuck past his blocker in the first period. "I saw it all the way," Enroth said. "He literally threw a curveball at me. It was a knuckle puck that dipped right in front of me, and I just got a piece of it." The Sabres (11-25-4) thought they had tied the game when Marcus Foligno banged the puck past Montoya, but the referees ruled the net was dislodged before the puck went in. Video review was inconclusive, so the call on the ice stood. "If that goes our way its a different kind of game," said Sabres forward Drew Stafford, who knocked the net off. Trouba, the rookie defenceman, one-timed a Chris Thorburn pass to beat Enroth at 13:06 of the second period for his third goal of the season. Peluso added an empty-net goal with 1:28 remaining. The Jets have said theyll need to string together more than just a three-game streak to make a push for a Western Conference playoff spot. "I think every team struggles with consistency," Trouba said. "Its part of the game, and its what youre striving for." Enroth, who finished with 23 saves on 25 shots, hasnt had much help from his teammates this season. The Sabres have scored just 16 goals in his 12 starts. Buffalo failed to score on four power plays, while the Jets were blanked all three times they had the man advantage. While Montoyas US$601,000 salary is $3.3 million less than Pavelecs, his play could soon force Noel to re-evaluate the way he splits his goalies workloads. Pavelec is 11-16-4, with a .902 save percentage, while Montoya increased his save percentage to .934. After the game Noel said goalies, like special teams units, get hot and cold, and that the Jets would let things play out. The Sabres, owners of the NHLs worst record, had earned points in seven of their previous nine games, including a win against the Jets. That wasnt Winnipegs only loss against teams near the bottom of the standings. The Jets had been facing criticism for losses to Edmonton, Calgary and Florida, and vowed before the game that they wouldnt be taking their opponent lightly. "Youve got to come ready to play every game," Trouba said. "Theres no bad teams in this league. Everybodys got good players." Notes: Buffalo forward Ville Leino, who was shaken up against Washington on Sunday, was in the Sabres lineup but left after just three first-period shifts with a lower-body injury. a Jets forward Thorburn played in his 500th career game. a Winnipeg forward Blake Wheelers 10 goals in December were second only to Chicagos Patrick Sharp, who had 12. personalized-nfl-jersey . Colton Sissons also scored for Milwaukee (19-12-, which went ahead with a two-goal third period. Wade MacLeod and Greg McKegg replied for Toronto (23-12-4). cheap jerseys from china . This week they discuss the return of Teemu Selanne, the actions of Steve Nash, 9/11 tributes in New York City, and NHL superstars taking on headshot issues. http://www.personalized-nfl-jersey.com/. -- Steve Blake scored 16 points and Pau Gasol added 14 to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets 90-88 on Tuesday night with Kobe Bryant watching from the sidelines. cheap nfl jerseys . That isnt to suggest the Edmonton Oilers will release Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or the Philadelphia Flyers will part with Sean Couturier, because they wont. cheap jerseys . Tonight, the Maple Leafs hope to rebound from a lopsided defeat when they host the surging New York Islanders at Air Canada Centre. Watch all the action unfold live on TSN at 7pm et/4pm pt.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Toronto Maple Leafs hope to pick up where they left off before the Olympic break when they visit the John Tavares-less New York Islanders in Thursdays clash at Nassau Coliseum.Toronto was one of several NHL teams that had hot streaks interrupted by the NHLs Olympic break. The Maple Leafs had won five of six right before the hiatus and the club is 11-2-1 over its last 14 games.With 70 points, the Maple Leafs are currently holding on to the seventh of eight playoff spots in the East. Toronto also is just one point in back of both Tampa Bay and Montreal for second place in the Atlantic Division. The top three teams in each division get an automatic bid to the postseason.Toronto is aiming to qualify for the postseason for the second straight spring. Last season the Leafs halted the longest playoff drought in franchise history by making the postseason for the first time since 2004.The Maple Leafs emerge from the break with a road-heavy schedule ahead of them over the next few weeks. Toronto, which is just 11-12-5 as the away club this season, will play two straight and eight of its next 10 on the road.The Islanders, meanwhile, get to continue a five-game homestand on Thursday, but theyll do so without the services of captain and star centerman Tavares.Tavares helped Team Canada win the Olympic tournament, although he missed the semifinals and gold medal game after suffering a partial tear in the MCL of his left knee.dddddddddddd Although the injury was originally feared to be worse, it will still keep Tavares sidelined for the remainder of the regular season. However, he will not need surgery as was originally believed.The culmination of the regular season could mark the end of the 2013-14 campaign for the Islanders, who are already 14 points out of the Easts final playoff berth.Tavares, who expects to miss 8-to-12 weeks while recovering, is New Yorks leading scorer with 66 points and is tied for the team lead with 24 goals. He is also third in the NHL in points.The Islanders lost seven of eight games before the break in a stretch that did serious damage to the clubs postseason chances. Without Tavares, the club expects to have a difficult time getting back into the thick of the playoff race.New York and the Leafs have split two meetings so far in 2013-14, but the Isles are 4-1-1 over the last six encounters between the clubs. Toronto, however, has won three straight and four of the past five games at the Coliseum.The Isles are 8-14-8 as the host team this season. The club is playing the third test of its five-game homestand tonight and will complete the stay on Long Island after welcoming New Jersey and Florida on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. ' ' '