Shots: BUF 30 | NJD 28
Buffalo Sabres Goals:
- Thompson (Krebs, Byram)
- Krebs (Thompson)
New Jersey Devils Goals:
- Meier (Hughes, Bratt)
Final Thoughts
There was some concern that the Olympic break would kill the momentum Buffalo had built in the middle portion of the season. They responded with a quality performance and a victory.
Thompson and Krebs were the difference offensively. They both ended the game with a goal and a primary assist off the rush.
There was definitely some rust as a team. The passes weren’t as crisp, and the team seemed slightly out of sync at times. In those moments, UPL stood tall. He earned his first star nod with an impressive .964 save percentage. This included some truly great saves including an open chance from Jack Hughes on a 2-on-1 and a shorthanded breakaway from Hischier. As we saw on Sunday, goaltending can change a game when it matters most.
This win puts Buffalo in a three-way tie with Montreal and Detroit for second in the division. The Sabres hold the regulation wins tiebreaker, but the Canadiens have a game in hand. Sabres hockey is back, and they look to be ready for the final playoff push.