The Devils Exercised And Hopefully Exorcised Their Demons In A Much Needed Victory Over The Sabres

I'm not telling you last night was anything more than a far too tightly contested victory over a pretty terrible opponent who just so happened to be riding a mysterious hot streak. If the Devils can't beat teams like the Sabres - regardless of how dialed in their goaltender might be - then the playoffs are but a pipe dream, so if you want to consider it a "statement win" then the statement read like a healthy, beating heartbeat on an electrocardiogram. If nothing else, this team proved they still have a pulse. 

Now, that doesn't mean there weren't plenty of things to like, but it does mean that the bigger story is that the nauseatingly repetitive things not to like didn't end up costing them a win for once. Literally not getting a single call was pretty symbolic of just how many questionable ones have gone against them as of late, but that didn't stop Miles Wood and Taylor Hall from churning the wheels to tilt what's been extremely unforgiving even strength ice. Yet another stupid penalty that came due to their own stick-to-itiveness in sticking up for one another was again poorly timed, but it didn't result in them digging a deflating game-tying goal out of the back of their net. The lively puck that somehow alluded the stick of both Nico Hischier and then Brian Boyle with the net empty was apparently the same one that's been bouncing every way put New Jersey's since the start of the new year, but it still defied the distressing odds of the offsides challenge to end up giving them some late insurance. It wasn't much, but - considering the Devils had to stare their demons in the eye to get them - those two points were a result of them creating their own luck.

Now, it's still an uphill battle to put their nightmarish month in the rearview, but the ability to reach the first checkpoint while still being able to withstand the weight of their baggage is as good of a sign as Taylor Hall looking like he hadn't missed a day and Keith Kinkaid looking like he's never missed a workout...

Big save by @Blockaid1! #NJDvsBUF pic.twitter.com/NnlER3MY6N

— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) January 31, 2018