BUFFALO, NY - Pavel Zacha had three points, including the overtime winner, while Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt each scored their first of the season to lead the Devils to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night.
Video: POST-GAME REPORT | Pavel's Points
Miles Wood scored the other Devils goal, with his team-leading sixth of the season.
Just 2:17 into overtime, Bratt dropped the puck to Zacha, who wired a wrist shot blocker side on Hutton to win it for the Devils.
"This was a very important game for us to win and I think we outworked them today. We battled to the end," said Zacha.
Final shot count in the game was 40-32 for New Jersey, who won the game after dropping three straight. Zacha himself extended his scoring streak to eight games. He now has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in that span.
"Pavel is competing harder. His skating has really come along. I think he feels good about his game. He realizes there's some parts of his game he wants to improve. He's got an unbelievable shot and he showed it again in overtime," noted Devils head coach Lindy Ruff.
Riley Sheahan's goal 6:28 into the game put the Sabres on the board early. Victor Olofsson stripped P.K. Subban of the puck as the Devils defenseman was skating around the net. Olofsson chipped it over to Sheahan who backhanded it past Blackwood to open the scoring.
The first penalty of the game went to Damon Severson with 3:58 to go in the first, but Devils were able to kill it off.
The Devils had plenty of chances in the opening period, outshooting the Sabres 15-11, but could not solve Linus Ullmark as the Sabres goaltender stood tall.
"We focused on trying to take the ice away, get second opportunities. I thought their goalie made some really big saves in the first. Made a great save on Nico and we got some bodies in front," said Ruff.
That goaltender didn't continue on after the first period. The Sabres announced that Ullmark would not return to the game due to injury and he was replaced by Carter Hutton for the rest of the night.
Just over five minutes into the middle frame, Jesper Bratt carried the puck into the Sabres zone and made some nice moves before picking up some speed and driving to the net. His shot eluded Hutton to tie the game. Pavel Zacha picked up an assist, extending his scoring streak to eight. Damon Severson got the other helper.
"We put those three together," Ruff said of the line of Bratt, Zacha and Hischier. "Nico needs a shooter with him, Pav's got a great shot. If Bratter's going to be effective, he has to get inside. That line did a lot more inside the dots than outside tonight and usually that leads to success."
Zacha said that he's really enjoyed playing with those two, known for their camraderie over the years.
"It's fun," he said. "Playing with Bratter, Nico. We're just going to work hard and create chances."
On the next shift after the goal, Curtis Lazar skated in all alone but his deke attempt was denied by Blackwood. On the play, Dmitry Kulikov took a slashing penalty, giving the Sabres their second power play of the night.
With eight seconds to go in the Kulikov penalty, the Sabres scored to regain the lead. Casey Mittlestadt redirected a cross-ice feed from the top of the crease.
A minute after the Sabres goal, the Devils penalty woes continued. Nico Hischier got called for tripping Sheahan with the result being another Buffalo man advantage.
Devils had a pair of power plays to close out the second but could not convert. Collin Miller was called for hooking with eight minutes to go and Brandon Montour ran interference on Jack Hughes with three minutes to play in the period.
Three minutes into the third, Taylor Hall chopped at Miles Wood, causing him to bleed which resulted in a double minor and Devils power play for the next four minutes. Wood got his revenge on the chop, picking up a loose puck in front and putting it past a down-and-out Hutton into an empty cage to tie the game about 90 seconds into the penalty.
Just over two minutes later, Nico Hischier picked up a loose puck in the slot and backhanded it past Hutton to put the Devils in front 3-2.
With 5:46 to go in the third, Travis Zajac got called for high sticking. On the ensuing man advantage, Sam Reinhart quickly redirected a Taylor Hall pass past Blackwood, knotting the game up at 3-3 with Buffalo's second power play goal of the night but the Devils were able to pull out the win in OT.
"We needed the two points," said Ruff. "We played some hard hockey, some good hockey. We didn't want this game to slip away. We stayed with it. Disappointing to get the penalty killing goal to allow them to tie it but getting the two points was crucial for us."
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February 24, 2021 at 03:00PM
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GAME STORY: Devils 4 at Sabres 3 (OT) - New Jersey Devils
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