BUFFALO, N.Y. — On Sunday, the Buffalo Sabres secured a narrow 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils, powered by a strong performance from Tage Thompson, who notched a goal and two assists before leaving the ice in the third period after taking a hit to the head. JJ Peterka, Ryan McLeod, and Jason Zucker also contributed goals for the Sabres, marking their third consecutive win. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves during the match.
A major turning point occurred when Devils forward Stefan Noesen received a game misconduct penalty for elbowing Thompson in the face at 5:11 of the third period. As Thompson lunged for the puck near the blue line, Noesen not only knocked the puck away but continued to charge into him. The force of the hit caused Thompson’s helmet to come off, and he fell momentarily before rising to skate off towards the dressing room.
For the Devils, Paul Cotter was a standout as he scored two goals in the first game of their two-game road trip. Shortly after Noesen’s penalty, Jack Hughes managed to score a short-handed goal, drawing the Devils closer with just 21 seconds left in the period. Goaltender Jake Allen faced 27 shots, saving 23 before being substituted late in the second period; Nico Daws stepped in and made seven saves down the stretch.
Thompson’s 26th goal of the season set the stage for an explosive first period where Peterka and McLeod extended Buffalo’s lead to 3-0 by the end of the frame. Rasmus Dahlin played a key role for the Sabres, providing two assists that elevated him above Mike Ramsey for second place in points among Sabres defensemen, with a total of 331.
In terms of team dynamics, the Devils were missing their captain, Nico Hischier, along with their top goaltender, Jakob Markstrom. As a result, they struggled to carry forward the momentum from winning three out of their last four games at the end of January. Conversely, the Sabres, despite being at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, extended their winning streak to three for the fifth time this season, although they haven’t managed to win four in a row since January 2023.
A pivotal play occurred when McLeod deftly maneuvered the puck away from New Jersey’s Dougie Hamilton in the defensive zone, leading to his breakaway goal that put Buffalo up by three with just 29 seconds left in the first period.
Notably, while the Devils managed to score a short-handed goal, their highly regarded power play, ranked second in the league, struggled as they went 0 for 5 on the night, with two opportunities occurring in the final period.
Looking ahead, the Devils will face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, while the Sabres will conclude their four-game homestand with a match against the Columbus Blue Jackets on the same day.
