Devils Back on Track with Win In Buffalo | GAME STORY

Three goals from three different lines for the New Jersey Devils put them back on track against the Buffalo Sabres.
Jack Hughes had the opening goal for the Devils, followed by Jesper Boqvist and Tomas Tatar in the Devils 3-1 win in Buffalo against the Sabres.
After 20 minutes of play, the two clubs were held without goals, but the Devils put together their best first period in some time, out-chancing and shooting the Sabres while carrying most of the possession time. The offensive side of New Jersey's game came to life in the second period, where all three goals were scored at even strength.
Victor Olofsson was the lone Sabre to break through Akira Schmid, who made 32 saves on 33 shots.
The Devils return to the win column a game after their historic win streak ended.
"We have the mindset of not losing two in a row," Erik Haula said, "And that's kind of what we talked about before the game and the team responded well, we got a good team effort and good goaltending."
Right back on track.
"This was a good test for us," Jesper Bratt said post-game, "and we were talking all year about being comfortable in uncomfortable situations and this was one of these games, when we had a lead going on with two goals, going into the third and we knew that they were going to push."

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The Devils return home to host the Washington Capitals tomorrow night.
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Here are some observations from the game:
- The Devils wore their red 'Home' jersey with the Sabres wearing their white Reverse Retros tonight. - Little time was wasted in setting the tone early in the first period. Although the first frame ended in a 0-0 scoreline, playing a strong first period was an area that the club has emphasized as an area that needed improvement, even as the win streak went on.

"I thought we had great jump," Erik Haula said after the game, "Great O-Zone pressure, We were able to get on pucks, create turnovers, and yeah, we gave up a couple of chances, but I thought we had great energy."

The Devils outshot the Sabres 16-7 after the first 20 minutes and held a 6-0 edge in shots in the first seven minutes of the game. Much of the first half of the first period was played in Buffalo's end, where Craig Anderson made some big saves for the Sabres. Two chances in particular that could have haunted the Devilsat the end of the game, were Dawson Mercer's open chance through the slot that rang off the post and Yegor Sharangovich intercepting a pass in the high slot that he whiffed on, not getting much force behind his shot. - The way Jack Hughes finished off a 3-on-2 was a thing of beauty and led to the Devils 1-0 lead. At the 2:00 mark of the second, on one knee, Hughes received a pass from Erik Haula, a pass that was in the back of the net with pin-point accuracy and incredible velocity from Hughes' stick. - Three minutes and 57 seconds later the Devils would double their lead with Yegor Sharnagovich gathering a loose puck behind the Sabres bench to find Jesper Boqvist. Sharangovich took advantage of a wipe-out by defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, which set the puck loose.

It's another example of how the Devils have in their best games taken complete advantage of their opponent's mistakes and made sure that they end up in the back of the net.

- With his assist, Sharangovich has a five-game point streak (3G, 3A) to match the second-longest point streak of his career.

Sharangovich's longest streak is seven games from Feb. 8, 2022, to Feb. 28 (5g-6a=11). - After Victor Olofsson scored for the Sabres to reduce the Devils' lead to 2-1, it wouldn't be long before the two-goal lead was restored by New Jersey. Tomas Tatar completed a 3-on-2 play for the Devils' 3-1 lead. It was Jesper Bratt who started the play off the faceoff, an ever so subtle play, to poke the puck between Tage Thompson's legs to connect with Hischier who brought the puck up through the middle of the ice before passing off to Tatar.

The goal is Tatar's fifth of the season. - The shot margin was once again one of the glaring differences between the Devils and their opponent. After forty minutes of play New Jersey had the 36-21 edge in shots, firing 20 shots at Craig Anderson in the second period alone. - Craig Anderson made some enormous saves for his Sabres squad, including a two-pad stack on Miles Wood in the third period. Anderson was inundated with shots, the Devils hitting the 41-shot mark after 50 minutes of play.

Of the save by Anderson on Wood, head coach Lindy Ruff had a smirk on his face saying: "The old two-pad stack, seldom used, but very effective."

Tweet from @NJDevilsPR: J. Hughes opened the scoring tonight in a game for the fourth time this season. He is tied for second in the NHL for the number of times that a player scored the first goal of a game in 2022-23. #NJDevils - Always appreciate accolades from the other side of the ice. On the Sabres broadcast, color commentator Martin Biron spoke glowingly of the Devils ability to jump on pucks calling it 'mesmerizing'. - In four games played this season Akira Schmid had not given up more than two goals. In fact, only once did he give up two goals (Nov. 12, vs. ARI). In his appearance in relief for Vanecek on Nov. 10 he shut the door, while in his win at Ottawa he conceded just a single goal.

Schmid has a 4-0-0 record this season.