2023020113
[NHL.com Boxscore](https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/2023020113)
|Teams|1st|2nd|3rd|Total|
|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|
|[BUF](/r/sabres)|2|1|1|4|
|[NJD](/r/devils)|2|1|2|5|
##Team Stats
|Team|Shots|Hits|Blocks|FOW%|Giveaways|Takeaways|Power Play|PIM|
|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|
|[BUF](/r/sabres)|27|11|19|39.3%|4|1|0/2|16|
|[NJD](/r/devils)|40|10|12|60.7%|9|4|1/4|21|
##Goals
|Period|Time|Team|Strength|Description|
|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|
|1st|06:11|[BUF](/r/sabres)|Even|[JJ Peterka (3) wrist shot, assist(s): Tyson Jost (2), Owen Power (4)](https://players.brightcove.net/6415718365001/EXtG1xJ7H_default/index.html?videoId=6340008990112)|
|1st|07:41|[NJD](/r/devils)|Even|[Alexander Holtz (2) wrist shot, assist(s): Luke Hughes (2), Michael McLeod (1)](https://players.brightcove.net/6415718365001/EXtG1xJ7H_default/index.html?videoId=6340009608112)|
|1st|15:42|[BUF](/r/sabres)|Short Handed|[Tage Thompson (4) wrist shot, assist(s): Alex Tuch (3), Jordan Greenway (3)](https://players.brightcove.net/6415718365001/EXtG1xJ7H_default/index.html?videoId=6340011720112)|
|1st|16:11|[NJD](/r/devils)|Even|[Jesper Bratt (4) snap shot, assist(s): None](https://players.brightcove.net/6415718365001/EXtG1xJ7H_default/index.html?videoId=6340013023112)|
|2nd|13:47|[NJD](/r/devils)|Short Handed|[Erik Haula (3) backhand shot, assist(s): None](https://players.brightcove.net/6415718365001/EXtG1xJ7H_default/index.html?videoId=6340015717112)|
|2nd|17:32|[BUF](/r/sabres)|Even|[Rasmus Dahlin (1) slap shot, assist(s): Mattias Samuelsson (2), Jeff Skinner (2)](https://players.brightcove.net/6415718365001/EXtG1xJ7H_default/index.html?videoId=6340016786112)|
|3rd|02:09|[NJD](/r/devils)|Power Play|Tyler Toffoli (7) tip-in shot, assist(s): Jack Hughes (14), Luke Hughes (3)|
|3rd|12:35|[BUF](/r/sabres)|Even|[Dylan Cozens (3) wrist shot, assist(s): Kyle Okposo (3)](https://players.brightcove.net/6415718365001/EXtG1xJ7H_default/index.html?videoId=6340020204112)|
|3rd|14:17|[NJD](/r/devils)|Even|[Erik Haula (4) tip-in shot, assist(s): Kevin Bahl (1), John Marino (4)](https://players.brightcove.net/6415718365001/EXtG1xJ7H_default/index.html?videoId=6340020798112)|
##Penalties
|Period|Time|Team|Type|Min|Description|
|:–:|:–:|:-:|:–:|:–:|:–:|
|1st|08:39|[NJD](/r/devils)|MIN|2|Brendan Smith high-sticking against Victor Olofsson|
|1st|16:00|[NJD](/r/devils)|MIN|2|Ondrej Palat instigator against Connor Clifton|
|1st|16:00|[NJD](/r/devils)|MAJ|5|Ondrej Palat fighting against Connor Clifton|
|1st|16:00|[BUF](/r/sabres)|MAJ|5|Connor Clifton fighting against Ondrej Palat|
|1st|16:00|[NJD](/r/devils)|MIS|10|Ondrej Palat instigator-misconduct|
|1st|16:00|[BUF](/r/sabres)|MAT|15|Connor Clifton match-penalty against Nico Hischier|
|1st|11:04|[BUF](/r/sabres)|MIN|2|Kyle Okposo high-sticking|
|2nd|13:10|[NJD](/r/devils)|BEN|2|too-many-men-on-the-ice served by Alexander Holtz|
|3rd|00:56|[BUF](/r/sabres)|MIN|2|Casey Mittelstadt delaying-game-puck-over-glass|
|3rd|14:27|[BUF](/r/sabres)|MIN|2|Owen Power tripping against Michael McLeod|
**Officials**
* Referees: Chris Rooney, Beau Halkidis
* Linesmen: Caleb Apperson, Devin Berg
If you notice an error with this bot [click here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=TeroTheTerror&subject=HockeyMod Issue&message=Subreddit:%0A%0AIssue:) to message TeroTheTerror.
by HockeyMod
48 Comments
VV deserved a star for that. Buffalo could’ve scored twice as many if he hadn’t come up so big on some of those saves
Nico died for our sins
A fresh Dub, a Happy Haula, and Erika in leather – a perfect Friday night.
Did anyone clip the ref telling Bahl “You’ve got the fuckin power play” on the live mic in the first?
This team has problems. This team has answers. For better for worse it’ll be a fun season.
Fitz needs to address the goaltending. No way he sees these first few games and thinks “ya it’s fine”
They changed the goal back to Jack lmao. At this point Vitek might get credit for it too
4th devils goal is back to Jack now, that’s the 5th change.
Loving how the offense is clicking, especially on the power play.
I have to ask though, why is the defense lacking? I know they have some young guys there but I didn’t think they would be giving up this many goals every game.
I was stone cold sober for the Caps game. Tonight was absolutely polluted. So it’s clear what i must do – go on a six month bender. It’s really the only sensible thing to do.
Holtz haters get fucked.
Love that we have so many super likeable guys. Especially the non stars. Like its easy to like the guys who are always on the stat sheet but we have so much depth at the loveable position
Please trade for Karel Vejmelka. Ty
Remember when we absolutely sucked ass on the PP last season and everyone was complaining? Where are we now? Yea. Defense and goaltending will be addressed, I just hope it doesn’t take til next season.
Why y’all complaining about goaltending? Vitek literally stole this game for us. 2nd period was all Buffalo. Should’ve been down 2 goals at minimum before the 3rd
13 GAME HEATER
Also fuck Clifton
Candles out for Nico 🕯️🕯️🕯️
Happy for the W but today demonstrated that we have a gaping hole in D, not only at the blue line, but mentally in our forwards too.
Something’s got to change. Anytime the pressure is on we start making really dumb mistakes and start collapsing around the net instead of trying to block passing lanes, get man to man coverage, and box out people from the puck.
Haulage had a game…
Hell yeah. Boys held out tonight. Exactly the type of win we needed. Getting a tiny bit tired of the people who are dogging on Smith who dogged on Hamilton the year before who dogged on severson the year before. Guy might have the hardest defensive task on the team to keep Luke reliable on defense. I think he will be good for his development in the end
Happy with the win, but not happy with conceding 100 goals a game.
Are there any free agent defenseman we can consider?
How about Jack finishing 10/16 on faceoffs?
It speaks to the quality of this team that I think we all agree they have not had a great start to the season yet they’re 4-2-1, and the three losses were all games they were totally in and easily could have won. I remember when it felt like they had to play a great game to win. This team will be just fine.
Kevin Bahl is going to be a star in the NHL
I love this team and I love to hockey!
Goals 3&4 against looked like bad puck luck against us as far as I could tell. I didn’t get a good read on the first 2. Offense looked much better for the most part. Still on team “fix the defense” before team “fix the goalie”
We need consistent defense and goaltending. If only there was a Vezina caliber goalie who was interested in us specifically that we could have signed to an extension at the end of the season when the cap increases.
There’s no way losing Graves,Severson hurt the defense this bad. I refuse to believe it. It’s not like Graves/Severson were out on the ice for half the game. It’s mainly goaltending. We can’t continue to justify sub .900 goaltending or we’re going to waste the beginning of our cup window away
BETWEEN THESE CRAZY GAMES AND MY HYPE, I THINK MY HEART IS GOING TO EXPLODE.
Great game but this defense holy shit is smelly dumpster garbage. Sorry but Luke isn’t NHL ready, Brendan is shit and Siegs sucks this year.
I miss Gravy and Sevy.
Wear Devils Gear + Sit on the Correct Couch + Wear Devils Frenches Braces = Win
* I’ve figured out the formula, guys. I will now implement every game day.
* This game was goofy as fuck.
* ***Biz on the season preview for the Devils said something along the lines of, “the Devils may let up a lot goals with their goalie issues and defensive growing pains, but they’ll score a whole fucking buttload of them”***
* I think if we can win these high scoring games with our insane offense until our defense settles the fuck down, we can stick with the pack. And honestly thats all that matters.
* **WINS4NICO**
* Hoping Nico has the recovery and rest he needs and comes back when he’s good and ready and not a moment sooner. We have a game on Sunday, but then we won’t play until Thursday, so plenty of time for him to right himself. We love you, Nico!
* As Bill and Dano said, this was our most complete game. I said before the game I wanted to see **five** things specifically: more shots, better start, less defensive mishaps, better zone exits, and solid goaltending.
* I think we saw three out of the five which is a good start and a really important improvement to acknowledge.
* Our defensive whoopsies were annoying af tho. I hope we get those cleaned up asap.
* Second period was a bit sloppy I’d say, but still one of the better games we’ve played so far. Still need a full sixty minute effort. I’m sure we’ll get it soon enough.
* Really happy to see the PK be 100% tonight. I hope thats a trend that will continue.
* AMAZING ALEXANDER HOLTZ GAME. YOU GO HOLTY. YOU GO.
* Happy to see Mikey step up like he did when Nico left the game. He really did well on a line with Pally and Bratters. Commend him for that.
* Dawson Mercer, you will hit your stride soon and when you do the league will absolutely not be prepared.
* Curtis Lazar, you are a gem.
I’ll be there on Sunday for the game against the Wild. Witchcraft and sacrifices for Nico in the meantime.
Just how many breakaways will Luke subject his goalie to this season??
Couldn’t watch any of the game. Someone give me the tldr of how we looked tonight
According to hockey stats cards gamescore, for all goalies who have played 3 or more games this season Vitek Vanecek is ranked 42/51, and Akira Schmid 48/51. Early doors yet, but not helping my pre-season goalie jitters.
I figured it would take 20-30 games before our d settled in.
Our offense though, god damn we can score.
Haula’s stick breaking for his hatty still hurts
Lindy says they held Nico out purely for precautionary reasons. Raises the question of why the caution wasn’t there in the 2nd, but still sounds not nearly as bad as it could be.
Erika locked Anna Dua in a closet between periods
I was just browsing seatgeek for Sunday’s game and found an attractive offer which is now gone in the span of a few minutes I spent talking to my friend lol rip
Man teams are really trying to ragdoll us and assert dominance through physical play.
Trade for Eric Comrie
Missed the first, is holtz looking like a consistent NHLer?
I hate NHL refs but love NHL refs at the same time the way they don’t take crap from players and tell them right out like tonights hot mic
Wow. Just wow. Smith and Luke were horrible. Haula and Holtz looked good in their roles. This is one of the first games where I’m saying Vanecek needs to have at least one more of those, this should not have been as close as it was. Hope Nico’s ok but not too worried.
Only 2 points for Jack tonight, is it time to be worried? 😛
Wild game but really fun to watch live for my first in-person game of the season. The collective gasp in horror when Haula’s stick broke on the empty net chance and resulting fear that this would absolutely be the way the Sabres would’ve tied it was hilarious to experience with 16,000 others instead of just me and my cats on the couch.
This season is gonna be a work in progress so all you can really do is enjoy the ride and also accept that it’s a weird start to the NHL season as a whole (seriously, who expected Chicago to give Vegas their first loss of the year?).
We just need .915 collective goaltending and we are going to win a lot of games.