Devils 3, Sabres 1
Steve Bernier registered his 14th career two-goal performance - and second this campaign - as visiting New Jersey completed a sweep of the three-game season series.
Jordin Tootoo also scored while Scott Gomez and Adam Henrique each notched a pair of assists for the Devils, who have won three straight contests. Keith Kinkaid made 28 saves in his 10th career start as New Jersey climbed within 10 points of idle Boston for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 11 games remaining.
Matt Moulson netted a power-play goal for the Sabres, who lost for the eighth time in nine games (1-6-2). Anders Lindback stopped 24 shots after turning in a 44-save performance against Boston on Tuesday for his first win with Buffalo.
After a scoreless first period, New Jersey got on the board just over nine minutes into the second as Gomez made a pass from the bottom of the left faceoff circle to Bernier, who knocked the puck past Lindback from alone on the doorstep. Bernier doubled the lead less than five minutes later, banging in a loose puck in front for his 12th of the season.
Tootoo made it 3-0 at 8:14 of the third, when he blocked a shot by Mike Weber and raced down the ice before getting ahead of the defenseman and beating Lindback low to the glove side. Moulson spoiled Kinkaid's shutout bid with 8:19 remaining, tapping in a loose puck in the crease after the netminder stopped blasts by former Devil Brian Gionta and Tyler Ennis.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Bernier also scored twice on Jan. 14 at Los Angeles. ... New Jersey was without LW Mike Cammalleri, who was sidelined with an illness. The veteran leads the team with 25 goals. ... Devils LW Patrik Elias missed his third straight contest due to back spasms, while Buffalo D Andrej Meszaros returned to the lineup after sitting out two games with an upper-body injury. Sabres D Zach Bogosian, however, skipped his fourth consecutive contest with a lower-body ailment.