Devils Dominate Sabres in 5-0 Victory
In a commanding performance on Friday, the New Jersey Devils defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-0, marking their return to form by snapping a three-game losing streak on the road. Goaltender Jake Allen was instrumental in this victory, recording an impressive 42 saves, earning him his 29th career shutout and improving his season record to 8-4. This marks Allen’s first shutout since he blanked the Montreal Canadiens during a game on February 8, where he made 34 saves.
Offensive Highlights
The Devils’ offense was led by Arseny Gritsyuk, who scored two goals. Nico Hischier, Brenden Dillon, and Paul Cotter also contributed to the scoring spree. Hischier quickly got the Devils on the board early in the first period when he capitalized on a chaotic moment in the crease after a puck deflected off Sabres player Alex Tuch. This goal marked his fifth of the season and his ninth point in just four games.
Gritsyuk extended the lead in the second period following an assist from Dawson Mercer, taking advantage of the Sabres’ defensive lapses. Later in the third, Dillon and Cotter added to the scoreline within minutes of each other, sealing the decisive win for New Jersey.
Sabres’ Struggles
On the Sabres’ end, goalie Alex Lyon faced 23 shots, managing to stop 18 of them in his first game back after a rough outing against the Colorado Avalanche on November 13, where he was pulled after allowing two goals on just three shots. This latest shutout underscores the Sabres’ struggles, marking the third time this season they have failed to score.
Game Intensity
Adding to the game’s narrative, a tussle between Buffalo forward Tage Thompson and Devils’ Stefan Noesen set an intense tone early on, with both players receiving five-minute fighting majors after engaging in a brief fight just 2.5 minutes into the game.
Looking Ahead
Moving forward, the Devils will return home, where they’ve shown strong form with a record of 9-0-1, to face the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Sabres are scheduled to travel to Minnesota for a match against the Wild on the same night.
