Jake Allen delivered a stellar 42-save shutout, and Arseny Gritsyuk scored twice as the New Jersey Devils cruised to a 5–0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.
The win halted New Jersey’s three-game road losing streak and kept the Devils atop the Metropolitan Division. The shutout marked the 29th of Allen’s career and his first since Feb. 8, when he blanked Montreal with 34 saves. The 35-year-old improved to 8–4 on the season, rebounding impressively after surrendering six goals in his previous start in Philadelphia.
Nico Hischier, Brenden Dillon, and Paul Cotter also scored for the Devils. Hischier opened the scoring midway through the first period, capitalizing after a Timo Meier pass deflected off Buffalo’s Alex Tuch and dropped into the crease.
Gritsyuk extended the lead in the second by finishing a setup from Dawson Mercer behind the net. Dillon and Cotter put the game out of reach early in the third, striking just over three minutes apart — Cotter’s tally coming on a breakaway.
Buffalo was shut out for the third time this year. Alex Lyon made 18 saves in his return to the crease after being pulled early in a loss to Colorado on Nov. 13.
The game featured early fireworks when Buffalo’s Tage Thompson sought retribution against New Jersey’s Stefan Noesen, dropping the gloves just 2½ minutes in. The two fought for about 30 seconds — their first meeting since Noesen’s elbow injured Thompson last season — earning matching fighting majors.
Up Next
-
Devils: Return home Saturday night to host the Philadelphia Flyers, riding a 9–0–1 record on home ice.
-
Sabres: Visit the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night.
