Eichel scores twice, Sabres snap Devils' 5-game streak
NEWARK, N.J. -- The Buffalo Sabres rallied from a two-goal deficit to stun the New Jersey Devils 4-3 in overtime Friday night at the Prudential Center.
Jack Eichel scored twice for the Sabres (10-20-8), including the game-tying tally at 11:04 of the third period. Rasmus Ristolainen netted the game-winner at 2:37 of overtime.
The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Devils (22-9-6), who were attempting to sweep a six-game homestand for the first time in franchise history.
Just 1:17 after Eichel's power-play blast tied the game, the Devils appeared to regain the lead on Taylor Hall's breakaway goal. However, the on-ice goal call was overruled after video review showed Hall to be offside on the play and the score remained tied.
The Sabres almost took the lead themselves, and Eichel nearly completed the hat trick at 18:36, but his deflection hit the post behind Devils goalie Cory Schneider.
New Jersey's Miles Wood scored the only goal of the first period, pushing a loose puck just inside the post off a scramble at 13:35, his 10th of the season.
Buffalo pulled even 5:27 into the second period when Jacob Josefson, New Jersey's 2009 first-round pick, beat Schneider on a breakaway following a Blake Coleman turnover at the other end of the rink. Josefson's goal seemed to wake the home team up, and the Devils responded with a pair of goals six minutes apart to take a 3-1 lead.
Marcus Johansson scored on the power play at 8:34, his fifth goal of the season and third in two games against the Sabres. John Moore then drove his fifth goal through a Brian Boyle screen and past Buffalo goalie Robin Lehner at 14:44.
However, the Sabres got back within one, despite being outshot 13-3 in the second period, on Eichel's neat deflection at 18:05.
NOTES: Devils G Cory Schneider started for the eighth consecutive game, his longest streak of the season. ... The Devils assigned D Dalton Prout to AHL Binghamton after he cleared waivers earlier on Friday. ... New Jersey scratched RW Jimmy Hayes, RW Drew Stafford and D Ben Lovejoy. ... Sabres D Jake McCabe played in his 200th NHL game. ... Sabres C Jack Eichel extended his point-scoring streak to four straight games by scoring a pair of goals. ... The Sabres scratched D Josh Gorges, D Victor Antipin and C Scott Wilson.