Sabres Edge Devils in Post-Olympic Return

NEWARK, N.J. – The Buffalo Sabres emerged victorious with a 2-1 win against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on Wednesday, marking a successful return to action following the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 break. Tage Thompson, fresh off a gold medal win with Team USA, delivered a standout performance with a goal and an assist.

“I didn’t feel great out there, but no better way to find it than just jumping right in,” Thompson commented, adding, “I was trying to keep it as simple as I can, keep short shifts. I felt better as the game got going.” He registered three shots on goal in 19:19 of ice time.

Luukkonen Shines in Net

Peyton Krebs also contributed with a goal and an assist, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was stellar in net, making 27 saves for the Sabres (33-19-6). This win comes after a stretch where the Sabres had lost three of their previous four games.

Luukkonen’s performance was particularly noteworthy, especially considering his return from a lower-body injury. “I feel like we played solid defensively and I felt confident and good with my game tonight,” Luukkonen stated. His coach praised his character for playing so soon after winning Olympic gold.

Hughes Returns for Devils, But Falls Short

The game also marked the return of Jack Hughes to the Devils lineup after his own Olympic triumph with Team USA. Hughes scored the game-winning goal in overtime against Team Canada to secure the gold medal. He had an assist and one shot on goal in 21:25 of ice time.

“I just get goose bumps watching the video now just because the emotions are so raw and it means so much to every single one of those guys,” Hughes said. “We’re all genuinely just so happy for each other that we won.”

Game Highlights

• First Period: Tage Thompson opened the scoring for the Sabres with a snap shot from the slot at 8:10.
• Third Period: Peyton Krebs extended the lead to 2-0 with a wrist shot from the left hash marks at 10:36, assisted by Thompson.
• Late Game Drama: Timo Meier scored for the Devils with Allen pulled for an extra attacker at 17:30, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.

Despite the loss, Devils’ Jake Allen made 28 saves. The Devils (28-28-2) have now lost four consecutive games and six of their last seven.

Key Stats & Takeaways

Tage Thompson continues to be a driving force for the Sabres, extending his point streak to five games. He has been particularly effective against the Devils, with 19 points (12 goals, seven assists) in his past 16 games against them. The Sabres are on pace to achieve their highest point total since the 2006-07 season.

The Devils honored their seven 2026 Olympians before the game, including Nico Hischier, Jonas Siegenthaler, Timo Meier, Simon Nemec, Jacob Markstrom, Jesper Bratt, and Jack Hughes.

While the game wasn’t a masterpiece, the Sabres demonstrated resilience and secured a crucial win. As Thompson noted, “We have something really good going here and I think every point, especially at this point in the season, going forward, is crucial for us.”

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