NJD 1–3 BUF Final · L
Devils/Schedule/Recap Sun, Dec 21, 2025 · 2025-26 regular season
New Jersey Devils
NJD · 20-15-1
1–3
FinalL
Buffalo Sabres
BUF · 17-14-4
1ST2ND3RDT NJD 1120609127 BUF 0921214325 goals · shots on goal
Meeting 2 this season — the season series is tied 1–1
NJD 20-15-1 · BUF 17-14-4 · Meeting 2 this season — the season series is tied 1–1

Devils fell to the Sabres

The Devils created the better chances (3.0 to 1.2 expected goals) — and lost 1–3. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 2.0 more goals than an average goalie would have.

Who had the better chances

The Devils created the better chances: 3.0 expected goals to 1.2, on 27 and 25 shots on goal.

NJD 3.0 xG · 27 shots BUF 1.2 xG · 25 shots
0
1
2
3
1st 1.1 · 0.2
2nd 0.6 · 0.8
3rd · the swing 1.3 · 0.1
Tap a numbered goal to see how it happened.
Deserve to winReplay this game 100 times with average goalies and the Devils win 81.
NJD 81%BUF 19%

Goals and penalties

4 goals · 1 penalty
← Devils shoot this way Sabres shoot this way →
On net Missed Bigger = better chance 1Goal, numbered to the list
1st period
1
08:51 Jack Hughes
Dawson Mercer, · snap shot, a low-percentage shot (10%) that found a way in
1–0
PEN
19:48 Zach Benson· High-sticking
Killed
2 min
Minor
2nd period
2
02:26 Josh Norris
Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power · snap shot on a rebound, a good chance (14%)
1–1
3
16:05 Zach Benson GWG
Ryan McLeod, Jack Quinn · snap shot, a good chance (14%)
1–2
3rd period
4
17:59 Peyton Krebs EN
Tage Thompson, Bowen Byram · wrist shot, into an empty net
1–3
Goaltending
−0.8
vs expected
22/24 saves · 2 GA · 1.2 xGA Allowed 0.8 more goals than expected from the shots he faced.
+2.0
vs expected
26/27 saves · 1 GA · 3.0 xGA Stopped 2.0 more goals than an average goalie would have.
Team NJDBUF
Shots on goal
27
25
Expected goals
3.0
1.2
Hits
16
20
Blocks
24
13
Faceoffs
59%
41%
Power play
0/1
0/0
Penalty minutes
0
2
The Devils went 0-for-1 on the power play.