Newark, N.J. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - In their first game back from the Olympic break, the Buffalo Sabres got off to a positive start, doubling up the New Jersey Devils, 2-1, on Wednesday night at the Prudential Center.
After a scoreless first period, Tage Thompson got the Sabres going just 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 puck-handling skills, 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, this 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, though. New Jersey kept its hopes of a comeback alive with 2:30 left in the third period.
With a 6-on-5 skater advantage, forward Timo Meier banged home a goal to make it 2-1, Buffalo.
That was as close as New Jersey would get, as the Sabres 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, but his shot went wide of the net.
Luukkonen stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced, en route to being named the game's first star.
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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 Sabres, as they will visit the Panthers on Friday night. Puck drop at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise is set for 7 p.m. with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call.