Devils Game 58, NHL’s Back; Lines, Notes, & How to Watch vs. Sabres

The NHL is back, and so are the New Jersey Devils. The first night of game action following the Olympic break featuring eight games. The Devils host the Buffalo Sabres with 25 playoff-like games ahead of them.

Why playoff-like at this point?

Well, they’re on the brink of losing their season with a 2.4% chance at making the playoffs. The Devils are 11 points out of playoff position with a short runway to make up any ground.

Jack Hughes—in Washington D.C. yesterday with Team USA who were invited to the State of the Union address by the President of the United States—remains questionable in terms of his availability. It would be surprising to see him sit out, however, barring an unknown injury.

Washington is just a few hours away by car.

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup.

What to Know vs. Sabres

— The Devils blanked Buffalo in a 5-0 shutout victory on Nov. 28, at Buffalo, but fell 3-1 on home ice about a month later on home ice.

— Jake Allen recorded 42 saves in the 5-0 shutout, which marked a season-high for the veteran netminder.

2025-26 vs. Sabres

11/28/25 W 5-0 Key Bank Center

12/21/25 L 3-1 Prudential Center

2/25/26 7:00 P.M. ET Prudential Center

Devils vs. Sabres

All-time Record: 75-51-13-9

All-time Home Record: 40-25-6-3

All-time Road Record: 35-26-7-6

Projected Devils Lineup*

Forwards

Timo Meier  – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Jesper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown

Arseny Gritsyuk – Cody Glass – Lenni Hameenaho

Paul Cotter – Nick Bjugstad – Maxim Tsyplakov

Defensemen

Brett Pesce –  Johnathan Kovacevic

Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton

Brenden Dillon – Simon Nemec

Goaltenders

Jacob Markstrom

Jake Allen

*Lineup subject to change

Current Injuries: Zack MacEwen (upper body, out for season), Luke Hughes (separated shoulder)

2025-26 Total Man-Games Lost: 255

Projected Sabres Lineup*

Forwards

Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch

Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn

Noah Ostlund – Josh Norris – Josh Doan

Josh Dunne – Tyson Kozak – Beck Malenstyn

Defensemen

Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin

Bowen Byram – Owen Power

Zach Metsa – Michael Kesselring

Goaltenders

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Alex Lyon

How to Watch the Devils Game — 7:00 P.M. ET

Watch: MSGSN

Radio: DEVILS HOCKEY NET

Next Up

Thu., Feb. 26 at PIT 7:00 P.M. E.T.
Sat., Feb. 28 at STL 5:00 P.M. E.T.
Tue., March 3 Vs.FLA 7:00 P.M. E.T.

By James Nichols

James is a fully credentialed New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on Sportsnaut and the ... More about James Nichols