BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jack Eichel scored in a shootout, Linus Ullmark made 31 saves, and the Buffalo Sabres beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on Saturday.
Victor Olofsson, Tobias Rieder and Eric Staal also scored as the Sabres improved to 3-0-1 in their past four games. Janne Kuokkanen, Ty Smith and Andreas Johnsson scored for New Jersey in former Sabres coach Lindy Ruff’s first trip to Buffalo since taking over the Devils this offseason.
Scott Wedgewood stopped 28 shots. Eichel returned to the game in the third period after taking a puck to the mouth and briefly leaving for the dressing room.
Eichel also dealt with line adjustments and a sluggish start, with Sam Reinhart out with an upper body injury. Reinhart, Eichel and Taylor Hall were starting to build chemistry as linemates earlier in the week.
"Finding people that can go along with Jack is is always a challenge because of his level and speed and how he thinks and sees the game," Sabres Head Coach Ralph Krueger said after Saturday's game.
Jack went in with, with a minor injury for about 10 minutes in the third... so that was a whole we had to fill too, but overall, you know, it's Jack. Jack's a great captain that way, whoever he is playing aside and tries to work with them and and do the best he can."
Eichel came back from the dressing room, and won the game with the lone goal in the shootout, in the Sabres win. The teams meet again in Buffalo on Sunday.