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National Hockey League
Buffalo 3, New Jersey 2
When: 12:30 PM ET, Saturday, February 20, 2021
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Referees: Brandon Blandina, Jon McIsaac
Linesmen: Tony Sericolo, James Tobias
Attendance: N/A

Sam Reinhart scored twice in the second period, and the visiting Buffalo Sabres snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon in Newark, N.J.

Defenseman Colin Miller also scored and Linus Ullmark made 25 saves for the Sabres, who totaled only two goals while dropping three straight after a COVID-19-related layoff from Feb. 1-14.

New Jersey's Kyle Palmieri scored for the third time in two games, this time 40 seconds into the third period. Defenseman P.K. Subban also tallied on the power play with 3:16 left in regulation to get the host Devils within a goal.

Ullmark and the Sabres' defense stepped up to snap the Devils' three-game winning streak, with two victories coming after their own COVID-19 layoff.

Buffalo opened the scoring 5:26 into the game. Off a faceoff win, former Devil Taylor Hall slipped the puck to Miller, whose wrist shot from the point made it through traffic and past New Jersey goalie Mackenzie Blackwood (26 saves). It was the first time in six games that the Sabres recorded a first-period goal.

The Sabres made it 2-0 thanks to a faceoff win from captain Jack Eichel, this time with 11:53 to go in the middle period. Off a pass from defenseman Brandon Montour, Matt Irwin drilled a slap shot from the point, where the puck deflected off the stick of Reinhart and squeezed its way past Blackwood.

Reinhart would be rewarded again for his strong play with 2:14 left in the second. Alone in front of Blackwood, Reinhart pushed home an Eichel pass to make it 3-0.

Palmieri, who went his first nine games of the season without a goal, took a pass from Jack Hughes and scored off a wrister from inside the far circle. Subban's goal later in the third was his first of the season.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Buffalo   New Jersey
Sam Reinhart 2 Points Kyle Palmieri 1
Sam Reinhart 2 Goals Kyle Palmieri 1
Rasmus Dahlin 1 Assists Jesper Bratt 1
Sam Reinhart 1 Power Play Goals P.K. Subban 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Linus Ullmark .926 Save Percentage Mackenzie Blackwood .897
Linus Ullmark 25 Saves Mackenzie Blackwood 26
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Buffalo 29 3 1-1 2-3 6 28
New Jersey 27 2 1-3 0-1 2 21
Upcoming Games
  • New Jersey will play their next game on the road against Washington. The Devils have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .600 after a loss.
  • Buffalo will play their next game on the road against NY Islanders. The Sabres have a W/L % of .250 after a win and .444 after a loss.