Devils 2, Sabres 0
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Goalie Cory Schneider made 25 saves to lead the New Jersey Devils to a 2-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.
It was Schneider's second shutout of the season and the 19th of his career.
Right wingers Lee Stempniak and Jiri Tlusty scored for the Devils (16-11-4) and goalie Linus Ullmark made 19 saves in the losing effort for the Sabres (13-16-3).
The game featured few scoring opportunities for both teams before the Devils broke the deadlock late in the second period. Stempniak opened the scoring with 2:33 left in the second period on a rebound opportunity in front of the Sabres net. After Ullmark stopped left winger Mike Cammalleri's shot from the right circle, Stempniak pounced for his 12th goal of the year.
Tlusty made it 2-0 4:12 into the third period after the Sabres were unable to clear the puck out of the defensive zone. The puck eventually caromed to the middle of the ice, where Tlusty spun around and fired a bouncing puck into the top corner of the net for his second goal of the season.
Buffalo's two best scoring chances of the evening came on a power play just past the midway point of the third period. Center Ryan O'Reilly had a puck jump over his stick when faced with an open net, and left winger Matt Moulson was stopped from close range.
This was the first time brothers Ryan O'Reilly and Cal O'Reilly played in an NHL game together. Ryan O'Reilly has been one of Buffalo's best players this season, with 38 points in 32 games. Cal O'Reilly was called up from the AHL's Rochester Americans on Dec. 4 and played in his first game with the Sabres against New Jersey.
NOTES: LW Marcus Foligno (upper body) and D Carlo Colaiacovo were scratched for the Sabres. ... C Brian O'Neill, C Stefan Matteau and D Eric Gelinas were scratched for the Devils. ... Earlier Tuesday, Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma provided an update on injured G Robin Lehner (high ankle sprain). Bylsma said Lehner is making progress and has had several good days on the ice. Lehner, Buffalo's starting goaltender, has been out since Buffalo's season opener against Ottawa. ... This was the second of three meetings between the Sabres and Devils this season. Their next meeting takes place on Tuesday, April 5 in New Jersey.