After seven games, the Devils hold a 4-2-1 record.
The New Jersey Devils improved their record to 4-2-1 with a 5-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres Friday night. Erik Haula and Luke Hughes finished the game with two points, while Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt extended their point streaks.
For the seventh consecutive game, New Jersey surrendered the first goal of the game. Sabres' forward JJ Peterka's wrist shot got past Vitek Vanecek six minutes into the game.
Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Dylan Cozens would all score for the Sabres, while Alexander Holtz, Jesper Bratt, Erik Haula (2), and Jack Hughes lit the lamp for New Jersey.
Midway through the second period, Buffalo goaltender Eric Comrie left the game with an apparent injury. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen replaced him between the pipes. He made 18 saves on 21 shots. New Jersey's Vitek Vanecek made 23 saves on 27 shots.
"It was a game that had some radical swings to it. We fought our way back and took a lead," said Ruff. "They fought their way back again. We were able to grab momentum on a couple of our goals."
Five Things
1. Clifton Ejected After Hit on Hischier
With under five minutes left in the first period, Buffalo defenseman Connor Clifton slammed Nico Hischier into the boards.
A trainer came onto the ice to tend to the Devils' captain, who was kneeling, while veteran Ondrej Palat immediately jumped to Hischier's defense. Clifton was handed a match penalty for the hit and was ejected from the game. Palat was given a minor instigator penalty, a five-minute major for fighting, and a misconduct penalty.
2. Hischier Did Not Finish The Game
The Swiss center did not skate out with his team to start the second but returned to the bench and took a couple of shifts in the middle period. In the waning minutes of the period, he came off the ice, spoke with a trainer, and walked down the tunnel. He did not finish the game.
"I don't like that hit," Haula said after the game. "I just hope that (Hischier) has a fast recovery. Everyone can see that it catches him pretty good. Hopefully he'll get some rest now, have a fast recovery because we'll need him."
During his post-game press conference, Ruff said Hischier was held out for precautionary reasons, and they will see how he is doing Saturday.
Clifton will have a hearing with the Department of Player Safety on Saturday for an Illegal check to the head.
3. Jack Hughes Extends Point Streak
The NHL point leader earned his 18th of the season with his fifth goal two minutes into the third period. He extended his point streak from the start of a season to seven games, which marks the third longest in franchise history.
4. The Holtz-McLeod-Bastian Line
Who would have thought that all Alexander Holtz needed to score a goal was to play with Michael McLeod and Nathan Bastian? The line scored the Devils' opening goal and was noticeable on the ice.
"I thought in the first period, that line had to two of our better shifts, they scored the goal," said Ruff. "Just trying to strike a balance with lines offensively and defensively."
"They had a good night."
5. Haula's Strong Game
Haula earned his second multi-point of the season Friday night with two goals. His first was shorthanded on a breakaway, and his second was a tip-in.
"I think he was hurt a little bit and wasn't up to speed in the previous couple of games," said Ruff. "I thought tonight we saw more of what we need from him. Tough break when he was going to shoot into the empty net and his stick broke, but still when you look at overall play, I thought a real solid game for us."