Buffalo Sabres vs. New Jersey Devils Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/21/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ

Where to watch: MSG+, MSG-B

DraftKings: Check back later

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars: Check back later

Sabres: 28-38-11

Devils: 27-42-7

The Buffalo Sabres have nearly the same identical record as the Vegas Golden Knights since Jack Eichel was activated from long-term injured reserve, and I’m spent looking off into the distance while the mushroom cloud of doom heads my way wondering why are things the way they are?

But damn it all if I’m going to get caught up in thinking the Sabres are going to make the playoffs next season, because they’ll probably find a way if they have the right goaltending because they’ve got everything else going for them right now.

And with the Sabres, I like them in this matchup with the New Jersey Devils on the road Tuesday despite the fact the Devils knocked off said Golden Knights in Las Vegas on Monday night, because of course they would.

The Devils knocked off the Golden Knights 3-2 with two goals in the third period (with some help from horrendous goaltending by Robin Lehner toward the end) in hopes of trying to wrap up a respectable finish to the end of the season. Jesper Boqvist and Nathan Bastian scored, while Andrew Hammond (yeah, the Hamburger Man) stopped 42 of 44 shots to get his first win with this group that has had bad goaltending all year.

"It's special," Hammond said. "I'm starting to get back to the way I know I can play. … The most important thing is just how desperate we played. We knew we were going to play a desperate team. You saw guys diving and blocking shots. As a goaltender, that's all you can ask for."

The Devils are still a ways away from doing something relevant in the league, but they benefitted from Jack Hughes turning into an All-Star despite being shut down for the rest of the year due to injury. As far as I’m concerned, it’s all dependent if Lindy Ruff is the coach going forward, which I don’t believe he is under any circumstance. They’ve peaked under him and it’s time for a new voice.

It doesn’t seem like it’s time for a new voice as it pertains to the Sabres. Don Granato has continued to preach the improvement from these guys that continue to trend upward. Buffalo is coming off a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday, completing the home-and-home with some wins.

Victor Olofsson and Tage Thompson each had two goals, and Dustin Tokarski made 32 saves to defeat a Philadelphia team that doesn’t even seem like they play hockey the right way. They’re more backwards and crashing into things at this rate.

"I liked our game," Granato said. "Took us a little bit to get into it. [Tokarski] helped us get through a little bit of a phase, and then the guys were good."

The Sabres haven’t won three in a row since March 18-23, and I would expect that to change greatly going into this matchup. Buffalo is playing well, with confidence, and I like the fact they’re getting solid goaltending down the stretch between Tokarski and Craig Anderson. Buffalo with the win. Sabres win 4-2

Sabres are 15-27 following an over this season.

Sabres are 6-10 this season after a win by two goals or more.

Sabres are 0-7 this season when scoring four goals or more in two straight games.

Devils are 13-18 following a non-conference game this season.

Sabres:

Jeff Skinner -- Tage Thompson -- Alex Tuch

Rasmus Asplund -- Casey Mittelstadt -- Victor Olofsson

Vinnie Hinostroza -- Dylan Cozens -- John Hayden

Zemgus Girgensons -- Peyton Krebs -- Kyle Okposo

Jacob Bryson -- Rasmus Dahlin

Owen Power -- Henri Jokiharju

Will Butcher -- Casey Fitzgerald

Craig Anderson

Devils:

Yegor Sharangovich -- Nico Hischier -- Jesper Bratt

Tomas Tatar -- Pavel Zacha -- Dawson Mercer

Janne Kuokkanen -- Jesper Boqvist -- Fabian Zetterlund

A.J. Greer -- Michael McLeod -- Andreas Johnsson

Colton White -- Damon Severson

Ryan Graves -- Dougie Hamilton

Ty Smith -- P.K. Subban

Nico Daws

Points: Tage Thompson -- 63

Goals: Tage Thompson -- 36

Assists: Rasmus Dahlin -- 39

Goalie: Craig Anderson -- 16-12-2, 3.15 GAA, .896 SV%

Points: Jesper Bratt -- 70

Goals: Jack Hughes -- 26

Assists: Jesper Bratt -- 45

Goalie: N/A