Hockey Night in New York State: Long Island Up; Buffalo Down

From the desk: HOCKEY NIGHT IN NEW YORK STATE

NYR Centermen vs. Flyers

ten shots on goal; four assists

🏒

THURSDAY

Devils    4

Sabres   3

FINAL

BUFFALO - Devils center Nico Hischier scores his first goal since returning to action one week ago.  After falling behind in the first period, Jesper Bratt ties the game at one at the 5:27 mark.  But Dmitry Kulikov gets called for slashing and Casey Mittelstadt puts the Sabres back in front.  The lead doesn't last long.  Miles Wood opens the third period with a power-play goal at 4:25, and just over two minutes later Hischier finds the net giving Newark a 3-2 lead.  However, Sam Reinhart's power-play goal at 15:30 sends the game into overtime.  Buffalo then commits a cardinal sin of hockey: allowing a goal in the first or last two minutes of a period.  At 1:17 of overtime, Pavel Zacha finds the back of the net ending the game.

The Devils level out at 3-3 since returning from COVID lockdown.

Miles Wood with his sixth goal earned his 9th point in 15 games.

Now for my stick it to the New York Rangers segment.  Newark centermen accounted for 18 of the Devils 40 shots on goal.  They come away with two goals and two assists for four points. 

THURSDAY

Bruins       2

Islanders  7

FINAL

LONG ISLAND - Look what the Isles did to the Bruins, again!  As I always say, once is an event, twice is a coincidence, and three times is a trend.  With a third victory over the division-leading Bruins, the Islanders appear to finally be taking major steps forward towards the heights of the division.  Long Island has now outscored Boston by a whopping 12-4 margin through three contests.  

In my effort to keep sticking it to the Rangers, Long Island centerman joined for 14 shots on goal, with two goals and three assists for five points.