The streaking New Jersey Devils came out of the NHL All-Star break with something they rarely got in the first half of the season -- goals from Joe Nieuwendyk.
The veteran center scored twice and Patrik Elias had a goal and an assist as the Devils beat the struggling Buffalo Sabres 4-1 Tuesday night for their eighth straight win at home.
"I really enjoy the stretch drive,'' said Nieuwendyk, who had eight goals in the first 50 games. "I think we're all pretty pleased with the way the team is going. That's what we have to strive for, the consistency that we're playing with.''
The victory was the 16th in the last 22 games (16-3-2-1) for New Jersey, which is tied with Ottawa for first place overall in the Eastern Conference.
"There's a lot of games left to be looking at the scoreboard,'' said Nieuwendyk, who played despite being sick before the game. "It's something that gets talked about. The focus for us is to keep playing hard every night and piling on the wins and we'll see what happens at the end.''
If Nieuwendyk continues to score, the Devils will be able to make a run at a third Stanley Cup since 1995.
"He had a tough start, he'd be the first one to tell you that,'' said Jamie Langenbrunner, who assisted on both goals by the 36-year-old Nieuwendyk. "He's having fun again and playing hard. It's going to be a key to our success. He's a big-time player that has the ability to turn it up.''
Defenseman Tommy Albelin added his first goal and Corey Schwab made 19 saves for the Devils.
Curtis Brown scored for the financially strapped Sabres, who learned Monday that local businessman Mark Hamister had dropped his bid to buy the bankrupt team.
Rochester businessman and former New York gubernatorial candidate Tom Golisano is now the front-runner to buy the club.
"We're all professionals and we're trying to do the best job we can,'' said Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller, who got little help from his defense most of the game. "I don't think the bankruptcy should be indicative of how we play.''
Buffalo defensemen Alexei Zhitnik and Dmitri Kalinin turned the puck over in their own end to hand the Devils a 2-0 lead.
Zhitnik's blind backhand pass around the side boards was intercepted by Jiri Bicik. His shot hit off a Sabres player and Scott Gomez before ending up in front, where Elias backhanded it past Miller 1:55 after the opening faceoff.
Schwab, who was playing in only his sixth game this season, kept New Jersey ahead with a point-blank stop on Ales Kotalik early in the second period.
The Devils took over after that in winning for the 19th time in 27 home games (19-6-1-1).
Kalinin's giveaway set up a one-on-one chance for Nieuwendyk. After his first shot bounced off Miller's glove, Nieuwendyk stuffed the rebound into the corner of the net from a bad angle at 6:04 of the second period.
Albelin ended a 37-game scoreless drought with a short-handed goal at 14:01 of the same period.
Nieuwendyk, who had only eight goals in 50 games before the All-Star break, scored on a rebound 77 seconds later as the Devils beat the Sabres for the third time in as many games this season.
Brown spoiled Schwab's shutout bid with 6.1 seconds left in the second period. The goal came shortly after he finished serving a penalty.
"Some of our guys missed the game tonight,'' Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "They were still on the All-Star break.''
| SCORING |
PENALTIES |
First Period: 1, New Jersey, Patrik Elias 15 (Scott Gomez, Jiri Bicek), 1:55.
Second Period: 2 New Jersey, Joe Nieuwendyk 9 (Jamie Langenbrunner), 6:04. 3, New Jersey, Tommy Albelin 1 (shorthanded) (Sergei Brylin, Patrik Elias), 14:01. 4, New Jersey,e Nieuwendyk 10 (Jeff Friesen, Jamie Langenbrunner), 15:18. 5, Buffalo, Curtis Brown 9 (Adam Mair, Alexei Zhitnik), 19:53.
Third Period: None. |
First Period: Bench, Buf (too many men served by A Kotalik), 4:54; M Rupp, Njd (roughing), 7:39; A Kotalik, Buf (interference), 16:28; S Niedermayer, Njd (hooking), 17:41.
Second Period: C White, Njd (slashing), 12:02; C Brown, Buf (ob holding the stick), 17:32.
Third Period: J Dumont, Buf (tripping), 8:05; C White, Njd (holding), 11:14; D Kalinin, Buf (charging), 14:41; A Mair, Buf (tripping), 17:29; S Brylin, Njd (cross checking), 19:49.
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Attendance: 10,598.
Referees: Ian Walsh, Stephane Auger.
Linesmen: Anthony Sericolo, Brad Kovachik.
