Newark, N.J. (WGR Sports Radio 550/WBEN) - The Buffalo Sabres are back like they never left.
In the team's first game since the Olympic break, the blue and gold doubled up the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center.
After a scoreless first period back in action, Tage Thompson got the Sabres going 8:10 into the second. Skating down the slot, Thompson accepted a pass from Peyton Krebs off the left-wing side. He then showed off his sick pair of mitts, dragging the puck and creating a fresh angle to solve Devils' goalie Jake Allen.
Speaking of Krebs, he and Thompson connected for a second time, with about mere 9:24 left in regulation.
Devils forward Jack Hughes attemped to exit his zone, but had the puck stripped away by Thompson. After successfully thieving from his former Olympic teammate, Thompson sauced a pass over Krebs' way and he made no mistake in making it a 2-0 contest.
The Devils didn't go quietly. New Jersey kept its hopes of a comeback alive with 2:30 left in the third. With a 6-on-5 skater advantage, forward Timo Meier banged home a goal to make it 2-1 Buffalo.
That would be as close as New Jersey would get, as the blue and gold hunkered down for the remainder of regulation. Hughes had one more golden opportunity for the Devils, as he danced through the defense in on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. His shot went wide.
Luukkonen stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced, en route to being named first star.
Related
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SCORING RECAP:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
NJD: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 8:10 - Tage Thompson (31) (Peyton Krebs, Bowen Byram)
NJD: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 10:36 - Peyton Krebs (8) (Tage Thompson)
NJD: 17:30 - Timo Meier (15) (Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt)
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Bluestar Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - BUF
2. Tage Thompson - BUF
3. Jake Allen - NJD
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What's Next:
It's off to Florida for the blue and gold, who will visit the Panthers on Friday night, February 27. Puck drop at Amerant Bank Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call.