Following a disappointing 2-1 overtime loss on Friday night, the Buffalo Sabres traveled to the Prudential Center on Saturday evening to take on the New Jersey Devils in the second leg of their home and home series. Unfortunately, the Sabres were not able to keep it as close as Buffalo lost to New Jersey by a score of 4-2.
Less than five minutes into the first period, defenseman Kyle Quincey gave the Devils the early 1-0 lead with a slap shot from the point. The Sabres didn’t play particularly well before or after Quincey’s opening goal, finishing the first period behind in shots, hits and goals.
Just minutes into the second frame, Marcus Foligno tied the game for the Sabres with a wrist shot past Devils’ goaltender Cory Schneider. Foligno’s goal, his third of the season, was assisted by Brian Gionta, who has quietly put together a solid season thus far (seven points).
The Devils answered back just moments later, when rookie forward Nick Lappin restored the Devils lead. They would score another shortly after, when Kyle Palmieri doubled the Devils’ lead with his third of the season. The play was challenged by Sabres’ head coach Dan Bylsma for offsides, but the goal stood, extending the Devils’ lead to 3-1.
New Jersey’s domination continued through the third period, as John Moore increased the Devils’ lead to three midway through the final 20 minutes. Adam Henrique fed Moore with a beautiful pass through the slot, who shot the puck past Buffalo goalie Robin Lehner to give New Jersey an insurmountable 4-1 lead.
Matt Moulson was able to shrink the Devils’ lead, chopping the puck over Schneider’s right shoulder to give him his sixth goal of the season. Moulson’s goal is his second in as many nights as the 33-year-old continues his strong rebound season following a dismal 2015-16 campaign. William Carrier was originally given an assist on the Sabres’ second goal, but it was quickly taken away, canceling what would have been his first NHL point.
Games like this are the worst kind for Sabres fans, as there aren’t many positives that can be taken out of it. Buffalo was outplayed for the entirety of the game, and never really got going after stumbling out of the gate. The Sabres shot themselves in the foot in the third period, playing the majority of the final minutes of the game shorthanded, greatly decreasing any possibility they had of scoring two goals to tie the game.
Penalties may have been what killed this game for the Sabres. Despite not giving up a power play goal, the Sabres went to the box five times throughout the game. Buffalo played 1/6th of the game a man short, and their lack of scoring opportunities could be partly attributed to this.
Robin Lehner didn’t play an awful game, but it certainly wasn’t one of his best. Lehner stopped 23 out of 27 shots, making some solid saves throughout the game while also letting in some shots he could have had.
Nobody really stood out as a star in this game, but the loss can’t be blamed on one player in particular, either. The Sabres were just outplayed Saturday night in the Prudential Center, playing arguably one of their worst games of the year.
Buffalo will look to snap their four game skid next Tuesday night at the Scottrade Center, when the team takes on the St. Louis Blues for their first meeting of the year.