Up next on ‘How They Fared’, we take a deeper dive into the season series between the Buffalo Sabres and the New Jersey Devils.
On this installment of ‘How They Fared’, we are going to take a deeper dive into the three-game season series between the Buffalo Sabres and the New Jersey Devils. The first meeting took place in Buffalo toward the end of November.
After a scoreless first period, Jack Hughes gave New Jersey the 1-0 lead exactly two minutes into the second stanza. Just a few minutes later, the Devils made it 2-0. Buffalo scored their first and only goal thanks to Victor Olofsson but the Devils responded a couple of minutes later.
No more scoring took place and New Jersey took the first game. You would have to fast-forward to the month of March for the second meeting as the Sabres hosted the Devils once again. There were five goals scored in the opening period.
Dylan Cozens got Buffalo on the board first before Tage Thompson made it 2-0 just 39 seconds later. The Devils cut the lead in half but Jack Quinn gave Buffalo their two goal lead back. In the dying minutes of the first period, New Jersey scored once again and the score was 3-2 heading into the first intermission.
In the second period, it was the Alex Tuch Show. He scored both goals in the period and gave the Sabres a 5-2 lead after 40 minutes of play. The third period was the Jack Hughes show as he scored two goals for the Devils but they weren’t enough and Buffalo won the game 5-4.
Buffalo Sabres suffered a heartbreaker in Game 3 of season series
The final meeting took place during the last week of the regular season. Buffalo needed to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Out of the eight games the Sabres played in the month of April, their two losses were both crucial games and unfortunately, this was one of them.
After 20 minutes, the Devils had the 1-0 lead. Just about one minute into the second period, New Jersey made it a 2-0 game. Buffalo had to score the next goal and they did just that thanks to Jeff Skinner. Sadly for the Sabres, Miles Wood made it a 3-1 game heading into the final period.
Buffalo had to dig down deep to come back against a very good team. After the Devils made it 4-1, Mattias Samuelsson cut the Devils lead in half. Unfortunately, New Jersey added on two more goals and the Sabres playoff chances were extinguished as they went on to lose 6-2.
The Sabres were coming off a hard fought shootout win against the New York Rangers the night before and I think the back to back hurt them in this game. However, you’re asking for trouble when you are in a two goal deficit to start the game.
It was a heartbreaking ending but that’s how the season series played out. We’ll see what this season has in store between these two teams and I think the Sabres are like the Devils. A young upcoming team with talent and I can see the Buffalo Sabres having a season this year like New Jersey did last year.
(Historical data provided by Hockey-Reference)