Sabres beat Devils, extend lead to seven points

The Devils lost 4-3 the Sabres last night. The Sabres victory pretty much seals the conference crown. Buffalo has now a 7-point lead on the Devils with six games remaining

Buffalo played an uncharacteristic conservative game to match the Devils style of play and it paid off. The patient Sabres scored early in the second to take the lead with a goal by Jochen Hecht. Scott Gomez tied it a little later on a feed by Elias.

Five goals were scored in the third period. Daniel Paille and Jochen Hecht scored to take a 3-1 lead. Paul Martin scored to get back to within a goal with 6:11 left. Ales Kotalik scored the game winning goal at 15:52. Zach Parise added a goal for the Devils with two seconds left but it was too late.

The Sabres had a little more jump than the Devils having played last on Saturday. The Devils were on the second leg of a back to back involving the Islanders on Tuesday.



They were in the game
Even though they lost New Jersey was pretty much in the game. The Devils obviously fell a little short in the third period after having played the night before. In my game preview I was mentionning the importance of getting in that playoff mode. It is important that they proved despite the loss that they could skate with the high flying Sabres.

Back home
Considering their record at home it might not sound like a good thing to go back home. I believe it is a good thing. They have a lot to prove there and they will be playing the right team to get them going. The Flyers are in town on Friday night and they have always given the Devils a good run for their money. Playing this bad at home is so uncharacteristic that they really have to address this problem starting on Friday night.

Travis Zajac
Devils C Travis Zajac had two assists, increasing his point streak to seven games, during which he has two goals and six assists.


The loss
It pretty much gives the Sabres the conference crown. The top spot seemed within reach for the Devils a couple of weeks ago before the injury bug took their momentum away. The Devils have to regroup now and finish the season on a high note. They control their destiny because they just have a play as good as the Penguins to retain the Atlantic division. The Penguins are on a roll though. They are 8-2 in their last ten games.


"We haven't been playing that great at home, but this is the position we want. We need those games. It will be exciting playing in front of our fans." (Source: Star Ledger)
Center Scott Gomez about going back home after the 5-game road trip.