Devils fall to the Sabres

— The Buffalo Sabres are a much better team when they get on the scoreboard first.

The Sabres got an early goal from defenseman Colin Miller and two more from Sam Reinhart in posting a much-needed 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, snapping a four-game losing streak.

The Sabres have scored first in four of 14 games this season and have posted a 3-0-1 mark when they do. When they give up the first one, they are 2-7-1.

“There was just a real tone, tone, tone of joy, actually, after the 1-0,” Buffalo coach Ralph Krueger said. “Guys were just like, ‘Wow, when was the last time this happened?' And you can feel, without anybody really saying too much, that it really relaxed the group and we could settle into the game that we wanted to play."

Not only did the Sabres take the lead, Reinhart stretched the margin to 3-0 after 40 minutes and goaltender Linus Ullmark made 25 saves and fended off a third-period New Jersey push.

It was the Sabres' first win since beating the Devils in a shootout on Jan. 30, the last time they scored the first goal.

Jack Eichel added two assists for Buffalo, which returned to play this week after missing two weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Kyle Palmieri and P.K. Subban scored in the third period for the Devils, who welcomed center Nico Hischier for his first game this season by naming him captain. Mackenzie Blackwood (4-1-1) had 26 saves in losing for the first time in regulation this season.

The Sabres opened a 3-0 lead after two periods and the faceoff circle was key.