If you looked at the standings back in November, you probably would’ve bet your house on the Devils burying the Sabres for good. New Jersey was flying high, sitting second in the Metro, while Buffalo was doing that thing they always do—stumbling through a five-game losing streak and looking generally lost. Then December 9th happened. Since that night, the Sabres have been playing like a team possessed, dragging themselves from the bottom of the Atlantic right into the thick of the playoff race. Honestly, it’s been one of the weirdest 180-degree turns in recent NHL history.
The Night the Buffalo Sabres vs New Jersey Devils Narrative Flipped
The head-to-head story this season is basically a tale of two different teams. On November 28th, the Devils absolutely dismantled Buffalo. It was a 5-0 shutout that felt like a mercy killing. Arseni Gritsyuk was a nightmare for the Buffalo defense that night, and the Sabres looked like they were ready to pack it in for the summer.
But then came the rematch on December 21st.
That game in Newark was supposed to be a celebration for the Devils because Jack Hughes was finally back after missing 18 games with hand surgery. He even scored the opening goal! You could practically feel the roof coming off the Prudential Center. But the Sabres didn't blink. Josh Norris and Zach Benson—who has been an absolute spark plug lately—quieted the crowd in the second period. Buffalo walked away with a 3-1 win, extending what would eventually become a franchise-record-tying 10-game win streak.
Breaking down the numbers
- Buffalo's Surge: 15 wins in their last 17 games.
- Devils' Struggle: 4-6-0 in their last ten, including a brutal 9-0 loss to the Islanders earlier this month.
- Season Series: Currently split at 1-1, with a high-stakes rubber match coming up on February 25th.
Why the Sabres are suddenly terrifying
It’s easy to credit Lindy Ruff, and look, the guy is probably going to win the Jack Adams at this rate. But the real shift has been in the net. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is 6-1-0 with a .928 save percentage since the turnaround began. When your goalie stops nearly everything, it tends to make your defense look a lot smarter.
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Tage Thompson is also doing Tage Thompson things. He’s leading the league in shots over 90 mph. Think about that for a second. Every time he winds up, defenders are basically making a business decision about whether they actually want to block it. He’s sitting on 25 goals and 50 points as of mid-January, carrying the offensive load alongside Rasmus Dahlin.
Then there’s the "new" guy. Josh Doan, who came over in the JJ Peterka trade, has been a high-danger machine. He’s seventh in the NHL in shots from the slot. He’s exactly the kind of gritty, net-front presence Buffalo has lacked for about a decade.
The Devils' Identity Crisis
New Jersey is in a spot of bother. On paper, they should be elite. Jesper Bratt has 25 assists. Nico Hischier is playing nearly 20 minutes a night and leading the team in points. But the depth has vanished. During the 18 games Jack Hughes was out, they lost 10 of them. That's a massive red flag for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
Their goaltending has been a rollercoaster too. Jacob Markstrom has had nights where he looks like a Vezina candidate, but then you see him get pulled after giving up four goals on 15 shots. Jake Allen has been more consistent lately, but the team's overall team save percentage is hovering around .891. You can't win a Cup with those numbers. Not in this league.
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The Sheldon Keefe Factor
Keefe has been trying to tighten up the defensive structure, but the Devils are still giving up way too many high-danger chances. They are currently 28th in the league in "Goals For," which is shocking when you consider the talent on that roster. They’ve become a "one-line team" lately, and if Hughes or Hischier isn't on the ice, the threat level drops significantly.
Key match-ups to watch in the next Buffalo Sabres vs New Jersey Devils game
When these two meet again in February, keep an eye on the Mattias Samuelsson vs. Jack Hughes battle. Samuelsson has turned into a legitimate offensive threat this year, but his bread and butter is still shut-down defense. He’s been a plus-20 this season, which is kind of insane given how many goals Buffalo was giving up in October.
Also, look at the speed. Ryan McLeod for the Sabres is leading the entire NHL in skating distance per 60 minutes. He’s a lung on skates. If he can tire out the Devils' top pair of Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes, Buffalo is going to have a field day in the third period.
What this means for the playoff picture
Right now, Buffalo is sitting in that fifth spot in the Atlantic, but they’re only a handful of points behind the Bruins and Canadiens. They have games in hand. They have momentum. New Jersey, meanwhile, is tumbling toward the wild card spots in the Metropolitan.
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The Buffalo Sabres vs New Jersey Devils rivalry used to be about 90s trap hockey and Martin Brodeur vs. Dominik Hasek. Now, it’s about track-meet speed and high-danger analytics. If you're betting on the next game, keep an eye on the injury report. Buffalo's depth has been tested with guys like Jason Zucker and Jiri Kulich out, but so far, the "kids" like Zach Benson and Noah Ostlund have stepped up.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Second Period: Buffalo has outscored opponents 25-9 in the second period since December 9th. If they lead after 40 minutes, they are 12-0-0.
- Power Play Luck: New Jersey's power play has actually been decent (20.8%), but their penalty kill is a disaster (76.8%). If Buffalo gets 3+ power plays, the game is likely over.
- Goalie Starts: Always check if Luukkonen is starting for Buffalo. Their win percentage drops significantly when they have to dip into the third-string rotation.
If you’re looking to catch the next chapter of this rivalry, mark February 25th on your calendar. That game at the Prudential Center will likely determine who holds the tiebreaker heading into the final stretch of the season. Given how tight the Eastern Conference is right now, that single point could be the difference between a playoff berth and another "what if" summer.