New Jersey snaps losing streak

In Buffalo, the visiting New Jersey Devils snapped a six-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over Sabres on Wednesday night.

Jack Hughes had a goal and three points for New Jersey.

“I think we were in a pretty big hole there, so for us to get a few days just to refresh and come back to the rink excited, it’s a big deal,” Hughes said. “I think we were all pretty excited coming back and then to start it off with a win, that’s huge for us.”

Mackenzie Blackwood made 19 saves in the New Jersey win.

“You need your best players to make a difference for you and Jack made a difference for us,” New Jersey head coach Lindy Ruff said. “Coming back from a real tough injury (dislocated shoulder), I think it takes a little bit of time to get back in rhythm, but I thought he did a lot of great things.

“I know it was a three-point night, but he could’ve been in on a couple more opportunities. We count on him for a lot.”

Tage Thompson hit for a pair of goals for Buffalo.

“The guys battled,” Sabres assistant coach Matt Ellis said. “The battle and the compete was there. The execution at times, you said it, it was definitely sloppy. It took us a little while to get into the game and even at that point just finding a true rhythm to the game. … Tonight it felt a little bit off, but the battle level was there, the compete was certainly there.”

Ethan Prow added a single marker for the Sabres, it was first NHL career goal.

The Sabres dropped to 10-16-5.

New Jersey’s Jesper Bratt also picked up three points with a goal and two assists.

Yegor Sharangovich and Dougie Hamilton also scored for New Jersey.

Buffalo native, Alex Tuch, made his debut with the Sabres.

“It was a dream come true,” Tuch said. “You know, we didn’t get the result we wanted tonight and that was my biggest concern, not only playing for the Sabres but trying to get a win with the guys in the locker room. We were really disappointed.

” … But, you know what, the first game’s out of the way now. We can just focus on playing hockey and getting those jitters out of the way.”