Devils Offense Sputters Again in Loss to Sabres

New Jersey's struggles continue as they fall to Buffalo despite strong goaltending

Feb. 26, 2026 at 4:22am

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The New Jersey Devils were unable to capitalize on a strong performance from goaltender Jake Allen, falling 2-1 to the Buffalo Sabres. The Devils were shut out for over 57 minutes before a late goal made the final score closer. Missed opportunities, including breakaways from Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier, and a costly turnover by Jack Hughes proved costly for New Jersey, who have now lost four straight and six of their last seven games.

Why it matters

The Devils' offensive struggles have been a recurring theme this season, as they continue to squander strong defensive efforts and goaltending. This latest loss further damages their already slim playoff hopes and raises more questions about the team's ability to turn things around down the stretch.

The details

The Devils outshot the Sabres 12-9 in the first period but were unable to capitalize, with Bratt and Hischier both missing breakaway opportunities. Buffalo's Tage Thompson scored midway through the second period to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead, and a turnover by Hughes led to Buffalo's second goal in the third. The Devils were able to get a late goal from Timo Meier to make the final score 2-1, but they were unable to find the equalizer.

  • The game took place on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.
  • The Sabres scored their first goal midway through the second period.
  • The Sabres scored their second goal midway through the third period.
  • The Devils scored their lone goal late in the third period.

The players

Jake Allen

The Devils' goaltender, who made 27 saves in the losing effort.

Jesper Bratt

A Devils forward who missed a breakaway opportunity in the first period.

Nico Hischier

The Devils' captain, who also missed a breakaway chance in the second period.

Jack Hughes

A Devils forward whose turnover led to Buffalo's second goal.

Tage Thompson

A Sabres forward who scored the team's first goal.

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What they’re saying

“We had our chances, but we just couldn't capitalize. That's been the story too many times this season.”

— Nico Hischier, Devils Captain (allaboutthejersey.com)

What’s next

The Devils will look to bounce back quickly as they travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins on Thursday, February 27th.

The takeaway

The Devils' offensive woes continue to plague them, as they squandered another strong defensive performance and fell to the Sabres. With their playoff hopes fading, the team must find a way to generate more consistent scoring if they hope to turn their season around.