Pavel Zacha scored off a drop pass from Jesper Bratt just 1:17 into overtime, securing a 4-3 victory for the New Jersey Devils over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. The Devils, who rallied from two one-goal deficits, snapped a three-game losing streak.
Buffalo was without captain Jack Eichel, who was a late scratch after testing a lower-body injury during warmups. The Sabres’ troubles were compounded when starting goalie Linus Ullmark exited with a lower-body injury after stopping all 15 shots he faced in the first period.
In addition to Zacha’s overtime heroics, the Devils received goals from Bratt, Miles Wood, and Nico Hischier, while Mackenzie Blackwood made 29 saves. Zacha also contributed two assists, extending his points streak to eight games with three goals and seven assists during that span.
The Devils returned from a 4-1 home loss to the Sabres on Tuesday.
Buffalo’s Sam Reinhart forced overtime by tipping in a centering pass from Taylor Hall for a power-play goal with 4:30 left in regulation.
“This was a very important game for us to win. I think we outworked them today,” Zacha said. “We knew we had to get two guys to the net. That’s what we didn’t do in the previous game, and it made their goalie’s job too easy. We got better at that.”
The Sabres also saw goals from Casey Mittelstadt and Riley Sheahan but fell to 2-5-1 in their last eight games, with both wins coming against New Jersey. Backup goalie Carter Hutton made 25 saves in relief of Ullmark.
Sabres coach Ralph Krueger noted that Eichel’s injury occurred during warmups and was unrelated to him missing the morning skate earlier in the day. “It definitely caught us all by surprise. The first diagnosis of it is day-to-day,” Krueger said.
Regarding Ullmark, Krueger said further tests are needed to assess the severity of the injury.
The game-winning goal came as Bratt entered the Sabres’ zone and dropped a pass to Zacha, who fired a snapshot from the right circle that beat Hutton inside the far post.
With Buffalo leading 2-1, the game’s momentum shifted early in the third period when Hall was penalized for high-sticking Wood during a puck battle in the Devils’ corner.
Wood tied the game 1:27 later, sweeping in a loose puck at the right post after Nikita Gusev’s pass through the middle was blocked.
Hischier gave the Devils a 3-2 lead 20 seconds after Hall’s second penalty expired, capitalizing on a deflection off the skate of Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour.
“We knew we needed a momentum change. We were talking about trying to get two goals, but getting that one by Woody was huge,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “It shifted the momentum in our favor.”
Despite the loss, Krueger remained optimistic, given the Sabres’ depleted roster. The team is also missing three key defensemen, including Rasmus Ristolainen, who has just resumed skating after a two-week bout with COVID-19.
“I think under all the circumstances, I’m really proud of the group for getting us into overtime,” Krueger said. “I am proud of the effort and the work put into the game, although we did have some breakdowns that we need to address.”
Veteran forward Eric Staal assisted Mittelstadt’s goal, earning his 1,029th career point and moving ahead of former New York Rangers defenseman Brian Leetch into 81st on the NHL’s all-time list.
SKINNER STILL SCRATCHED
High-priced forward Jeff Skinner was a healthy scratch for the third consecutive game. Coach Krueger emphasized that the decision was not disciplinary.
“Number one, I don’t have a doghouse; I don’t really know what that is,” Krueger said after the pre-game skate in which Skinner worked with the team’s taxi squad.
Krueger declined to elaborate on the reasons behind Skinner’s benching, stating that it was a decision made in the team’s best interest.
“Every decision is made for the whole group,” Krueger said. He later confirmed that Skinner was not being disciplined.
UP NEXT
- The Devils return home for a two-game series against the Washington Capitals starting on Saturday.
- The Sabres will host the Philadelphia Flyers for a two-game series beginning on Saturday.
