A snap shot from the faceoff circle by forward Pavel Zacha ended a stellar night for the Sabres and goaltender Dustin Tokarski, as Buffalo fell 2-1 to the New Jersey Devils in overtime on Saturday night at the Prudential Center in Newark.
Dylan Cozens opened the scoring early in the first period on the power play. Cozens worked the puck along the boards back to defenseman 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 Devils goalie Nico Daws. It was the 20-year-old's first goal of the 2021-22 season.
That goal ended up being the only goal past Daws throughout the rest of the night, as the rookie netminder made 24 saves on 25 shots faced in his first NHL start.
Dustin Tokarski had a standout sequence in the second period, as the Devils nearly tied the game twice on opportunities from in close.
Yegor Sharangovich had the first quaity chance when he hit a goal post just beyond the halfway mark of the period. In the pursuit that followed, Marian Studenic had an a clear shot that Tokarski was able to stop through desperate acrobatics. The New Jersey goal horn was even briefly activated, such was the odds of making the save Tokarski made.
Buffalo's 32-year-old netminder finished the night playing stellar with 37 saves on 39 shots faced.
New Jersey eventually tied the game in the third period on a Nico Hischier power play goal from Dougie 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.
The game remained tied at 1-1 for the remaining 14:08 of regulation, forcing overtime between the two teams in Newark.
With 1:51 remaining in overtime, the game ended when Zacha picked up a drop pass from defenseman Damon Severson, and he utilized the space given to him to fire a shot past Tokarski for the game-winning tally.
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GAME SUMMARY:
Goal Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 3:19 - Dylan Cozens (1) PPG (Jacob Bryson, Kyle Okposo)
NJD: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
NJD: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
NJD: 5:52 - Nico Hirschier (1) PPG (Dougie Hamilton, Tomas Tatar)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
NJD: 3:09 - Pavel Zacha (2) (Damon Severson, Yegor Sharangovich)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 4:07 - Artuu Ruotsalainen (Hooking - 2 min.)
NJD: 1:57 - Jonas Siegenthaler (Holding - 2 min.); 4:07 - Team (Delay of Game - 2 min. - Served by Jimmy Vesey)
Second Period:
BUF: 1:00 - Victor Olofsson (Tripping - 2 min.); 3:17 - Jacob Bryson (Delay of Game - 2 min.)
NJD: 9:42 - Dawson Mercer (Tripping - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 4:24 - Rasmus Dahlin (Interference - 2 min.)
NJD: NONE
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
NJD: NONE
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Paval Zacha - NJD
2.) Nico Hirschier - NJD
3.) Nico Daws - NJD
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What's Next:
The Sabres return to KeyBank Center on Monday night to face the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. Pregame coverage on WGR begins at 6 p.m. ET with Schopp and the Bulldog. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on the radio home of the Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.
