Watch: Dustin Byfuglien jubilantly rips home first goal in 33 games

Kyle Cantlon
·Writer

Big Buff just shed a bigger monkey off his back.

Dustin Byfuglien finally netted his first goal of the season on Friday, taking a feed from Blake Wheeler and blowing a one-timer through traffic and past Chad Johnson, before looking skyward in a visible display of relief.

Byfuglien returned to action in a 3-2 loss to the Avalanche on Tuesday. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Byfuglien returned to action in a 3-2 loss to the Avalanche on Tuesday. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

It’s been a weird, shocking and downright puzzling goal-scoring drought for the offensively adept blueliner, who went his first 29 games this season without finding the back of the net. Coming into Friday’s game with the Sabres, Byfuglien hadn’t buried in 33 games dating back to last season and had registered only two tallies in his last 39 contests overall.

Byfuglien has potted double-digit goal totals in nine of his 10 full NHL seasons, six times scoring 17 or more. Since 2014-15, Byfuglien ranks 7th among defencemen with 50 goals.

The Jets extended their points streak to five with a 4-3 victory.