#NJDevils fall the the Sabres 3-1 at The Rock. #BUFvsNJD pic.twitter.com/VbKIe2uclz
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 6, 2016
The New Jersey Devils lost another game despite Patrick Elias’ return to team. The summer can’t come fast enough for this New Jersey team.
- New Jersey Devils 1 (37-35-8 82 pts)
- Buffalo Sabers 3 (34-35-11 79pts)
By Ryan Daly
New Jersey Devils lost to the Buffalo Sabers by a score of 3-1 on Tuesday night as neither team had more than 20 shots in this tightly contested game.
This marks three straight losses with only two more games remaining on the schedule for a New Jersey team that has high hopes for the golf course.
Devils 39-year old forward Patrick Elias returned to the lineup for the first time action since December, when he sustained a knee injury.
Elias had 20 shifts which accounted for 14:15 minutes of ice time.
Goaltender Corey Schneider had 15 saves on 17 shots in only his second game back from a lower body injury.
Schneider appears to be fully healthy as he has looked solid in the Devils past two games. Schneider’s health is a bright spot as the Devils season winds down.
#NJDevils fall the the Sabres 3-1 at The Rock. #BUFvsNJD pic.twitter.com/VbKIe2uclz
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 6, 2016
PATTY’s BACK! Coach Hynes confirms that Patrik Elias will return to the #NJDevils lineup tonight at The Rock! pic.twitter.com/Kiy23oQfr5
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 5, 2016
With only two games left on the schedule, New Jersey needs to finish the season on the right note, as many players will be looking to secure a roster spot for next season.
Allowing the younger guys to see more ice time, backup goaltenders Keith Kinkaid and Scott Wedgwood included, would give players valuable experience moving forward.
Hynes said Kinkaid will get another start. Thursday makes most senses, but Hynes would only say that was a possbility.
— Tom Gulitti (@TGfireandice) April 6, 2016
As for Patrick Elias, he is in the last year of a three-year contract.
Elias will have to show the new Devils regime that his injury is behind him and that he is worth bringing back for another year.
New Jersey’s front office is going to have a ton of decisions to make this offseason, and these last games will be crucial in that process.
