DEVILS (3-3-1) AT SABRES (3-3-2)
TV: MSG+ at 1:00 PM ET
Head-to-Head:
Today's game marks the first of eight games between New Jersey and Buffalo in the 2020-21 regular season series.
Last season, the Devils and Sabres played twice. Both games were at KeyBank Center with the lone date at Prudential Center being cancelled. Buffalo won both games big, by a 7-2 and 7-1 score back in October and December, respectively.
Jack Eichel had two goals and six points in two games for the Sabres to lead the way.
Devils Team Scope:
The Devils have dropped each of their last two decisions, both at home to the Flyers. They now embark on their first road trip of the season with two games against the Sabres followed by a pair in Pittsburgh.
New Jersey is two points behind the Pens for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East Division, with a game in hand.
Jack Hughes leads the Devils with seven points (three goals) through seven games. Ty Smith is second on the club with six points in seven games.
Sabres Team Scope:
The Sabres started the season with only one win in its first five games (1-3-1) but have now picked up points in each of their last four games (2-0-2) to claw back to the .500 mark. With eight points on the season, they're one point ahead of the Devils and one behind the Penguins for the East's final playoff spot.
Today's game marks the first for Taylor Hall against the Devils since he was traded in December 2019 to the Arizona Coyotes. Hall has seven points (one goal) in eight games this season for the Sabres.
By the Numbers:
Jack Eichel has 12 points (6 goals) in 11 career games against the Devils, including three points in each of his last two meetings.
Today's game will mark the first back-to-back set Devils will play this season. The Devils will play six back-to-back sets this season, two of which involve the Buffalo Sabres. Last season the Devils were 0-5-4 in the first game and 4-4-1 in the second game.
This season series between the Devils and Sabres will mark the fifth time in franchise history that New Jersey and Buffalo will play consecutive games against each other. This season will also mark the second time in franchise history that New Jersey and Buffalo will play a back-to-back against each other. The last time was Nov. 11 and Nov. 12, 2016. The Devils won both games of the back-to-back home and home set. This weekends back-to-back will be the first time in franchise history the two teams have played a back-to-back in the same location.
The Devils will play the Sabres eight times during the 2020-21 regular season. This will set a new franchise record for games played in a single season between New Jersey and Buffalo. The previous high for games played between New Jersey and Buffalo franchises in a single regular season series was four, which was done 25 times. The last time the Devils and Sabres played each other four times in a regular season series was back in the 2011-12 regular season.
Nico Hischier (1-1-2) led New Jersey in points in the 2019-20 season series against the Sabres.
Injury Update:
Devils: Nico Hischier (leg) is out; Mackenzie Blackwood (COVID-19 protocol) is out; Travis Zajac (COVID-19 protocol) is questionable; Aaron Dell and Sami Vatanen are awaiting the completion of the visa and quarantine process
Sabres: Zemgus Girgensons (hamstring) is on IR; Henri Jokiharju (upper body) is day-to-day; Sam Reinhart (upper body) is day-to-day
