New Jersey @ Buffalo preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 25, 2019 ) Buffalo 1, New Jersey 3

One game does not a season make, but for a franchise that has finished in last place in the Atlantic Division in four of the past six seasons, the Buffalo Sabres have reason to be giddy after their first regulation win over Pittsburgh in 6 1/2 years. The Sabres look to improve to 2-0-0 under new coach Ralph Krueger when they host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.

Buffalo ended its lengthy hex versus the Penguins with an impressive 3-1 victory in Thursday's season opener behind a pair of goals by Conor Sheary. "I think a lot of the guys in the room were pretty excited about it after the game," Sabres captain Jack Eichel said. "I thought the way we played, it was the new brand of Sabres hockey." New Jersey also is hoping to flash a new brand of hockey after finishing last in the Metropolitan last season and appeared on its way until a late collapse. The Devils blew a four-goal lead, giving up three tallies in the third, before falling in a shootout to visiting Winnipeg 5-4 on Friday night.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG-Plus (New Jersey), MSG-Buffalo

ABOUT THE DEVILS (0-0-1): Coach John Hynes had no update on Cory Schneider, who exited the game early in the third period after allowing Winnipeg's second goal and appeared to be in distress by the bench, but Taylor Hall said he thought the netminder was dealing with cramps. Blake Coleman scored twice while Russian rookie Nikita Gusev netted the Devils' first goal and was their only player to convert in the shootout. Jack Hughes, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, had one shot on goal and was denied in the shootout.

ABOUT THE SABRES (1-0-0): Linus Ullmark was the better goaltender throughout training camp but Carter Hutton received the nod in Pittsburgh and responded with 28 saves to earn the victory. “It was a decision out of the coaching room where certainly the experience and the leadership that we felt we needed was better served with Hutton,” Krueger said Friday. “We thought Linus had a great camp. He’s shown a lot of good minutes and we feel confident with both.” Casey Mittelstadt also got off to a fast start by setting up both of Sheary's goals.

OVERTIME

1. Hall collected an assist and had a game-high six shots on goal in his first contest since Dec. 23.

2. Sabres F Jeff Skinner has 14 goals and 20 points in 34 games versus New Jersey.

3. Coleman scored twice in two games versus Buffalo last season.

PREDICTION: Sabres 4, Devils 2