Despite having its healthiest lineup of the season, the Devils fell flat against the Buffalo Sabres.
Newly-appointed captain Nico Hischier was activated from the COVID-19 list and made his season debut after missing 11 games due to an offseason leg injury. Travis Zajac also returned to the lineup after missing the past four games due to COVID-19 protocols.
But the Sabres controlled play from the start, and a disjointed effort from the Devils ended in a 3-2 regulation loss on Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark.
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The Sabres scored the first three goals of the game over the opening 40 minutes, putting the Devils in a three-goal hole entering the third period.
The first two goals came off point shots that managed to sneak past Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood. Colin Miller opening the scoring from the right point at 5:26 of the first period, using a low shot to find the far side of the net.
Matt Irwin started the Sabres’ second goal at 8:07 of the second period, taking a shot from the point after a face-off win. Sam Reinhart tipped to tip the shot, causing it to deflect just over Blackwood’s pad and off the bottom of his glove.
Reinhart also scored the third Sabres goal, converting on a power play at 17:46 of the second period. Jack Eichel hit Reinhart at the mouth of the crease, allowing him to easily redirect the puck past Blackwood.
Reinhart’s goal came on the Sabres’ first power play of the night, after the Devils failed to cash in on two power plays.
Kyle Palmieri got the Devils on the board 40 seconds in the third period, scoring his third goal in two games. After Jack Hughes skated into the offensive zone, he dropped the puck to Palmieri on the left side. Palmieri skated down and flipped a shot off the crossbar and into net.
P.K. Subban scored a power-play goal with 3:16 left in regulation to pull the Devils back within on goal, but they couldn’t find the equalizer in the closing minutes.
Devils salute Hall
During the first media stoppage in the first period, the Devils played a tribute video for former winger and Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall, who played in his first game at Prudential Center since being traded to the Arizona Coyotes in December of 2019.
Hall gave a quick wave to the empty arena — with a little help from Eichel, who picked up his arm. The tribute came after Hall picked up an assist on the Sabres’ opening goal.
Next up
The Devils will travel to play the Washington Capitals in the first meeting between the two teams at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The game was originally scheduled for 7 p.m., but the NHL adjusted the schedule on Saturday afternoon after pushing tomorrow’s outdoor game between the Flyers and Boston Bruins to 7:30 p.m.
The Sabres will return to Prudential Center on Tuesday to play the Devils again, and the two teams will head to Buffalo for a game on Thursday.
The Devils will close out next week with back-to-back home games against the Washington Capitals on Saturday and Sunday.
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Devils lose to Sabres, despite return of Nico Hischier and Travis Zajac - NJ.com
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