Newark, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) - Scott Gomez and Jacob Josefson each had shootout goals that lifted the New Jersey Devils to a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
The two scores during the final phase, along with 24 saves from Cory Schneider, enabled the Devils to halt a four-game losing streak. Patrik Elias registered New Jersey's lone regulation goal.
Buffalo was dealt a 15th loss in its last 16 on the road, but still managed to salvage a point behind Michal Neuvirth's strong effort between the pipes. The Sabres netminder turned away 34 shots, including four in overtime, and denied Adam Henrique on a penalty chance with 3:27 left in the third period to keep the game tied.
"If we're going to play like that, we're going to win sometime soon," said Neuvirth.
Schneider had a shutout working through two periods while protecting a 1-0 lead that was erased a mere 27 seconds into the third, when the Sabres' Tyler Ennis raced in to collect a loose puck in the New Jersey zone and snapped in a quick chance.
The Devils dominated most of the period's remainder, and had a golden opportunity to go back ahead when Henrique was pulled down by Zach Bogosian on a breakaway. Neuvirth didn't bite on a fake attempt during the resulting penalty shot, though, and turned it aside with his right pad.
New Jersey had a few more good chances in overtime it wasn't able to connect on, but Gomez and Josefson each got backhand tries past Neuvirth during the first two rounds of the shootout before Schneider stopped Ennis to clinch the victory.
"A game we probably felt we should have and I think had to have just for a number of reasons," Schneider said. "Buffalo is a tough out."
The Devils did convert near the end of their first power play of the game to open the scoring 6:18 in, with Elias able to redirect a pass from Marek Zidlicky by Neuvirth with his back facing the Buffalo net.
There was no scoring but a couple of close calls in the second period. New Jersey's Eric Gelinas struck the post on a power play early in the session, while Schneider stoned Matt Ellis all alone from in close around two minutes later.
Gelinas also had a goal waved off in the first period after clearly using a high stick to bat the puck past Neuvirth.
Game Notes
Buffalo dropped to 1-13-2 in its last 16 road games and has now lost four straight at New Jersey ... The home team has won each of the last seven matchups in the series ... The Sabres were 6-1 in shootouts prior to Tuesday's result, while the Devils improved to 4-6 ... New Jersey's Travis Zajac skated in his 600th career NHL game ... Devils forward Stephen Gionta returned to action after missing 18 straight games with a broken hand and faced his older brother Brian, the Sabres' captain who spent seven seasons with New Jersey from 2001-09.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.