BUFFALO, N.Y. _ The New Jersey Devils were looking to establish some dominance after starting the season with a shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night. But they didn't establish much on Saturday night in a 7-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac scored for New Jersey but a rough night for Mackenzie Blackwood in net and an even rougher night for the once-vaunted penalty killed doomed the Devils early.
The Sabres converted on two power plays in the first period to put the Devils in 2-0 hole going into the intermission. Kyle Palmieri cut the lead in half just 37 seconds into the second period but less than two minutes later, Rasmus Dahlin launched a long one through traffic and it was redirected by Kyle Okposo. Blackwood couldn't get eyes on it and it was 3-1 Sabres.
Chaos ensued after Jeff Skinner made it 5-1 at 8:57 in the second. Miles Wood was upended by Rasmus Ristolainen and a few minutes later Taylor Hall was crunched on the boards by Jake McCabe and he went back to the locker room. A melee broke out after Wayne Simmonds launched a retaliatory hit on McCabe and Hall briefly reappeared on the ice when the officials were trying to sort out penalties.
Hall returned for the third period and Zajac got one back for New Jersey but it was too little, too late. Another power play goal by Sam Reinhart at 13:33 in the third did the Devils in and another goal from him after a good sequence by the Devils on the other end was the icing on the cake.
The Sabres celebrated the first home game of their 50th season with a touchdown.
The Devils killed off only one of Buffalo's four power play attempts in a dismal performance.
Blackwood gave up seven goals on 36 shots and has now allowed 10 in just two appearances this season.
If we're going strictly based on visuals, old friend of New Jersey Marcus Johansson threading the needle for Skinner at 8:57 in the second period was probably the prettiest goal of the night.
Zajac's goal was the 187th of his career. He's now seven goals away from tying Zach Parise (194) for fourth on the club's all-time list.
