Alex Tuch scored two goals and an assist on Friday night to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 5-4 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn each recorded a goal and an assist, Tage Thompson scored his 44th goal of the season, and JJ Peterka contributed two assists as the Sabres snapped a four-game losing streak. Buffalo won for just the third time in 13 games (3-8-2). Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 27 saves, securing his first win in seven starts.
Buffalo stayed within the playoff hunt, moving six points behind Pittsburgh for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
“We played a really good game, and it’s a big step in the right direction,” Tuch said. “We corrected many past mistakes and kept our heads up, ready to work.”
Jack Hughes scored twice and added an assist for the Devils, who have lost five of their last six games (1-3-2). Kevin Bahl contributed a goal and an assist, and Yegor Sharangovich also scored. The Devils pulled Akira Schmid after he allowed three goals on seven shots in the first 10:55. Vitek Vanecek made 17 saves in relief.
“I didn’t think we were ready to play at a high enough level,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “When a team is not ready to play, that falls on my shoulders.”
New Jersey, two points behind first-place Carolina in the Metropolitan Division, entered the game needing one win to clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2018 and reach 100 points in the standings for the first time since 2012.
“Maybe it was some pressure,” Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler said. “We could have clinched today with a win. Maybe that was in our heads.”
Hughes scored his 38th and 39th goals five minutes apart, bringing the Devils within one goal before the midway point of the third period. Hughes also had a goal disallowed late in the second period after the Sabres successfully challenged that Sharangovich was offside.
Tuch’s second-period goals helped Buffalo build a 5-2 lead. Jeff Skinner set up Tuch in the high slot at 4:50 of the period, and Tuch tipped in Rasmus Dahlin’s point shot on a power play with 3:22 left for his 32nd goal.
Cozens and Thompson scored 39 seconds apart early in the game to give the Sabres a quick lead.
“We haven’t had the first goal in a while,” Dahlin said. “That was big for us. We felt like we had our swagger back and needed to play.”
Sharangovich responded for the Devils less than two minutes later, but the Sabres regained their lead when Cozens set up Quinn for the rookie’s 14th goal.
“We weren’t mentally or physically sharp,” Ruff said. “They skated right by us, leaving our goalie vulnerable. When you give them rush chances, that team makes you pay.” Bahl made it 3-2 with 1:14 left in the first period, snapping a shot from the right wall past Luukkonen.
THOMPSON TOUGHS IT OUT
Thompson’s breakaway goal marked the 100th of his NHL career. His 44 goals are the most by a Sabres player in 30 years.
He later sustained an injury from a hit by New Jersey’s Timo Meier late in the first period and missed the first few shifts of the second period. Thompson’s return provided an emotional lift for the Sabres. Still, coach Don Granato mentioned that Thompson played hurt in the final two periods and is questionable for Saturday’s game against the Islanders.
MILITARY APPRECIATION
Sabres players warmed up in green jerseys bearing the names of local veterans, which were later gifted to service members attending Military Appreciation Night. Captain Kyle Okposo’s jersey honored Nicholas Warden, a U.S. Army veteran who died in 2017 while serving in Syria. During the first intermission, a video showcased the team’s adopted service dog, Nikki, named in Warden’s honor.
UP NEXT
- Devils: Host Ottawa on Saturday night.
- Sabres: Visit the New York Islanders on Saturday night.
