BUFFALO, NY - The Buffalo Sabres defeated the New Jersey Devils by a score of 7-4 in their second game in the 2022 Prospects Challenge. This edition of the annual round-robin tournament from LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo has not disappointed. The home team was looking to follow up on their 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens in the tournament opener.
The 1st period was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading chances and hits. There were several scrums after whistles, and multiple cases of coincidental minor penalties. Brian Halonen missed an early golden chance for the Devils, skying his penalty shot over Buffalo goaltender Beck Warm. New Jersey would open the scoring around halfway through the period, as Garrett Van Wyhe scored in the midst of a net-moth shoving match. The Sabres would tie the game less than two minutes later, as Ethan Ritchie tipped in a Linus Weissbach slap shot. Not long after, the home crowd erupted again as Filip Cederqvist scored off a rebound from Oskari Laaksonen. Buffalo took a 2-1 lead into the intermission.
The pace became faster and faster as the 2nd period went on. Buffalo goaltender Beck Warm made a phenomenal save to preserve the lead, and his team nearly backed him up right after, with a shot from the point ringing the crossbar. It was Aleksandr Kisakov who finally gave the Sabres a two-goal advantage, flying down the left wing and beating New Jersey goaltender Nico Daws low glove. Again, Buffalo tallied another goal quickly after a lengthy puck cycle, with Spencer Sova sniping Daws bar down on the glove side. The ping of the metal was immediately followed by the roar of the crowd, as the Sabres went up by three.
The 3rd period saw an avalanche of goals, and it was the Devils who got it started. Billy Jerry scored to cut his team's deficit to two, but the Sabres immediately replied just 31 seconds later with a rebound goal for Isak Rosen. Josh Filmon quickly got it right back for the Devils. New Jersey then hit back just a minute later as Garrett Van Wyhe scored his second of the night, cutting the deficit to one. The Sabres would not allow them to do so again for the rest of the night. Buffalo first round draft choice Matthew Savoie restored the two-goal leading, finishing off a beautiful feed from Spencer Sova. An empty netter from Juri Kilich would seal a 7-4 triumph.
The Sabres will look to finish the Prospect Challenge with a perfect 3-0 record on Monday. They will battle the Ottawa Senators at 1:30 that afternoon.
PHOTO CREDIT: Buffalo Sabres