A snap shot from the faceoff circle by Devils Forward Pavel Zacha ended a stellar night for Sabres goaltender Dustin Tokarski as Buffalo fell 2-1 to New Jersey in overtime.
Dylan Cozens opened the scoring early in the first period on the power play. Cozens worked the puck along the boards back to Jacob Bryson at the point. Bryson returned it to Cozens, who was able to work down to the top of the left circle uncontested, where he placed a wrist shot over the shoulder of Nico Daws. Daws made 24 saves on 25 shots.
Dustin Tokarski had a stand out sequence in the second period as the Devils nearly tied the game twice on opportunities from in close. Yegor Sharangovich hit a goal post just beyond the halfway mark of the period, and in the pursuit that followed Marian Studenic had an a clear shot that Tokarski was able to stop through desperate acrobatics. The goal horn was even briefly activated, such was the odds of making the save Tokarski made. Tokarski would finish the night making 37 saves on 39 shots.
New Jersey tied the game in the third period on a Nico Hischier power play goal from Doug Hamilton and Tomas Tatar. Hamilton took a slap shot from the blue line that ricocheted off of the end boards back to a waiting Hischier.
Game Summary
Goal Summary
First Period
BUF: 3:19 - Dylan Cozens (1) (Bryson, Okposo)
NJD: none
Second Period
BUF: none
NJD: none
Third Period
BUF: none
NJD: 5:52 - Nico Hirschier (1) (Hamilton, Tatar)
Overtime
BUF: none
NJD: 3:09 - Pavel Zacha (2) (Severson)
Penalty Summary
First Period
BUF: 4:07 - Artuu Ruotsalainen (2 min., hooking)
NJD: 1:57 - Jonas Siegenthaler (2 min., holding)
4:07 - Delay of Game (2 min., served by Jimmy Vesey)
Second Period
BUF: 1:00 - Victor Olofsson (2 min., tripping)
3:17 - Jacob Bryson (2 min., delay of game)
NJD: 9:42 - Dawson Mercer (2min., tripping)
Third Period
BUF: 4:24 - Rasmus Dahlin (2 min., interference)
NJD: none
Overtime
BUF: none
NJD: none
Losi and Gangi Three Stars
1. Paval Zacha
2. Nico Hirschier
3. Nico Daws
What's Next
The Sabres road trip continues with a game in Tamp Bay against the Lightning on Monday night. Pre-game begins at 6 P.M. with Schopp and the Bulldog with the faceoff at 7. P.M. You can hear all of the coverage on WGR Sports Radio 550 and on the Sabres Radio Network.
