After a two-week break, National Hockey League players returned to the ice following the historic 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games.
In Newark, New Jersey, the NJ Devils hosted the Buffalo Sabres in the first post-Olympic matchup, welcoming back seven Olympians. Among them was Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal to give the U.S. its first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey in 46 years. The Sabres also returned two players who had represented Sweden and another American gold medalist, making for an exciting showdown of Olympic talent.
The first period started slowly, with both teams testing the waters but failing to score.
Twelve minutes in, the Sabres were penalized for too many men on the ice, giving the Devils their first power-play opportunity. New Jersey Devils’ captain Nico Hischier later drew a two-minute tripping penalty against Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin, keeping the pace physical but scoreless as the period ended.
The second period heated up quickly. Just nearly 15 minutes into the frame, Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler was called for high-sticking Jason Zucker, escalating into a fight that earned Siegenthaler and Zucker five-minute major penalties.
Devils defenceman Johnathan Kovacevic added a two-minute hooking penalty against right wing Josh Doan at 16 minutes and 53 seconds, keeping the game intense and chippy.
Despite the penalties, the Sabres broke through.
At eight minutes and 10 seconds, Tage Thompson, fresh off winning a gold medal with Team USA, scored his 31st goal of the season off a slick setup from Peyton Krebs and Bowen Byram, giving the Sabres a 1-0 lead.
Thompson’s Olympic experience clearly energized Buffalo, as the team’s speed and composure stood out during key sequences.
In the third period, the Sabres extended their lead. Krebs scored off a wrist shot, assisted again by Thompson, making it 2-0 Buffalo.
The Devils refused to fold, and at 17 minutes and 30 seconds, Hughes cut the deficit to 2-1 with a goal assisted by Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier, but time ran out before New Jersey could equalize. Buffalo also drew a late penalty on Owen Power for holding, but the Devils could not capitalize.
Looking ahead, both teams will carry momentum into the rest of the season.
The Sabres, currently predicted to enter the playoffs as the third seed in the Atlantic Division, demonstrate why they are among the league’s top contenders, combining youthful energy with the confidence gained from Olympic success.
The Devils sit seventh in the Metropolitan Division, searching for consistency to climb the standings. The game was an exciting return to NHL action, with both teams showcasing their Olympic talent and high-level competitiveness.
Every shift felt energized, and the physicality combined with crisp passing made for a thrilling matchup from start to finish.
