EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Corey Schwab made 19 saves for his third straight win and Joe Nieuwendyk scored twice Tuesday night as the New Jersey Devils remained the league's hottest team with a 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
Making just his sixth start of the season, Schwab flirted with his second shutout. He surrendered a goal to Curtis Brown with 6.1 seconds to go in the second period but nothing else as he improved to 4-2-0 and lowered his goals-against average to 1.17.
Since a 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Nov. 23 in his first start of the season, Schwab has given up four goals in five games.
Nieuwendyk continues to emerge from an early-season slump, recording his third two-goal game in the past month. He scored twice in a three-goal second period that gave New Jersey a 4-0 lead.
Patrik Elias added a goal and an assist and defenseman Tommy Albelin ended a 37-game scoring drought. The Devils, who have earned points in 13 consecutive contests (11
1-1), extended their home winning streak to eight games.
The Sabres have lost four straight (0-2
2) following a 7-1-2 stretch and have just one win in their last 11 games against Atlantic Division opponents.
The game did not start well for Buffalo. Off a giveaway by defenseman Alexei Zhitnik, Jiri Bicek threw the puck at the net. It deflected off defenseman Dmitri Kalinin and the left goalpost before Elias cut in front and lifted a backhander past rookie goalie Ryan Miller at 1:55 of the first period.
It ended a five-game drought for Elias, who has eight goals and six assists in his last 14 games.
Just under three minutes later, the Sabres were penalized for having too many men on the ice but survived the ensuing power play.
Nieuwendyk made it 2-0 at 6:04 of the second period. Kalinin could not clear the puck and Nieuwendyk got off a shot from the edge of the right faceoff circle. Miller got a piece with his glove, but Nieuwendyk chased down the loose puck and tucked it inside the right post.
New Jersey was killing a penalty on defenseman Colin White at 14:01 when Albelin got his first goal since March 10, 2002. He got his own rebound and snapped a wrist shot from inside the right circle for his first shorthanded tally since Nov. 16, 1999.
Nieuwendyk struck again 77 seconds later with a short flip over Miller after Jeff Friesen's centering pass deflected off defenseman Jay McKee.
Brown spoiled Schwab's shutout bid just before the end of the period, lifting an off-balance backhander over the goalie's left shoulder for his ninth goal.
