New Jersey Devils (3-1-0 6pts) vs Buffalo Sabres (3-1-1 7pts)
Game Recap
After suffering their first loss of the season on Thursday night against the Washington Capitals, the New Jersey Devils look to get back in the win column against the Buffalo Sabres. Tonight’s game also features the NHL debut for Devils rookie goaltender Nico Daws. The young rookie net minder was spectacular for New Jersey despite the team getting down 1-0 early as Dylan Couzens got the Sabres on the board early with a power play goal. Couzens skated the puck to the right face off circle and fired a wrist shot into the back of the net to give his team the early lead. That would be the only goal of the period as New Jersey wasn’t able to get much going offensively and the Sabres would remain in front heading into period two.
No red lights were turned on for goals this period as the game remained 1-0 in the second period. The Devils had plenty of offensive chances in the second frame and almost scored serval times as they led the period in shots advantage 14-6. However, puck luck wasn’t on their side as the puck kept hitting the post during a particular offensive zone possession where the Devils pinned the Sabres in their own zone. Buffalo would remain in the lead 1-0 heading into the third period.
After not being able to score on Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski through two periods, the New Jersey Devils finally broke through on the power play as captain Nico Hischier scored his first goal of the season to tie the score up 1-1 at the 5:52 mark of period three. Hischier put in the rebound at the doorstep after a Dougie Hamilton shot carumed off the boards and right to him for the tying goal. The score would remain tied and off to overtime we went. In overtime, Pavel Zacha would be the hero as he fired a wrist shot from the left face off circle that would beat Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski on his glove hand side for the game winning goal. Devils rookie goalie Nico Daws would earn his first ever career win in the National Hockey League as he made 25 saves in the winning effort. New Jersey is back in action for the final game of their opening homestead as they host the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night.
Lineups
New Jersey Devils
Buffalo Sabres
Game Highlights
Final Stats
| NJ | BUF | |
| Shots | 39 | 25 |
| Hits | 25 | 30 |
| Power Play | 1/3 | 1/2 |
| Face-Offs | 66% | 34% |
Next up: New Jersey Devils vs Calgary Flames, Tuesday 10/26/21 @ 7pm EST
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