*Photo from TheScore*
Now that's a way to get back on track. Nico Hischier had a goal and an assist, Tyler Toffoli scored twice, and the New Jersey Devils routed the Buffalo Sabres with a 7-2 victory on Saturday in Newark.
The win snaps a 3 game losing streak for the Devils in convincing fashion as their record now sits at 9-9-1 on the season. Alexander Holtz, Dawson Mercer, and Luke Hughes had a goal and an assist each, while Jesper Bratt and Dougie Hamilton had two assists in addition to Toffoli and Hischier's games.
Devils head coach Lindy Ruff said that "We came out quick, speed through the neutral zone, speed on the entries. When you add a player like Nico, it kind of pushes the players back in position and gave us a little bit more depth in the top couple of lines, so I liked a lot about how we came out."
Holtz started the scoring for the Devils just 1:31 into the game, assisted by Hamilton and Erik Haula. At the 11:09 mark of the first period, Toffoli scored to double the Devils lead to 2-0 on his 10th goal of the season. Hischier, returning from injury, scored to make it a 3-0 lead. Ondrej Palat scored to make it 4-0 Devils after one period.
Starting the scoring in the second period was Jeff Skinner of the Sabres. He got Buffalo on the board 1:53 into the second, ending the shutout bid with his 10th goal of the season, this one on the power play. Toffoli followed that up with his second goal of the game, making it 5-1 Devils with assists from Holtz and Hughes.
Just 50 seconds into the 3rd period, Mercer lit the lamp for the Devils, making it a 6-1 game on assists from Hamilton and Jack Hughes. Kyle Okposo scored on the power play 3:55 into the period for the Sabres, cutting the deficit to 6-2. At the 5:38 mark of the period, Luke Hughes scored his second goal of the season to make it 7-2 Devils.
Hischier said after the game that "I wanted to come back, and I thought today was the right moment and I'm glad I came back and was able to help the team. When we play four lines, bring the effort, that intensity, then we play Devils hockey. We’ve got to just bring that more consistently."
Getting the start for the Devils was Vitek Vanecek, who was able to get the win to improve to 8-5-0 in 13 starts. Vanecek didn't have a busy night, stopping 10 of the only 12 shots he saw from the Sabres, good for a .833 save percentage.
Eric Comrie got the start for the Sabres opposite Vanecek and struggled, getting the loss to drop to 1-3-0. Comrie made 14 saves on 18 Devils shots before being pulled after the first period. Devon Levi came on in relief, making 17 saves on 20 shots through the rest of the game.
Sabres head coach Don Granato said of the loss that "It's very disappointing; this was self-inflicted, and we just didn't work hard enough. We had a struggling first period. There were too many goals on breakdowns, and that's how goals are scored in the NHL."
The Devils resume their schedule on Tuesday night against the New York Islanders, with Vanecek expected to get the start. The Sabres face the New York Rangers on Monday, with Levi the projected starter.
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