Pavel Zacha scored the go-ahead goal on the power play in the third period, and Cory Schneider made a season-high 45 saves as the host New Jersey Devils skated to a 3-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday in Newark, N.J.

Blake Coleman also scored with the man advantage, and Miles Wood added an empty-net goal for the Devils, who have won two in a row after losing 10 of their previous 12 (2-9-1).

Schneider has turned aside 79 of 81 shots to defeat Buffalo in both encounters this season. The 33-year-old's lone blemish on Monday came in unconventional fashion, as Sam Reinhart scored from center ice in the first period.

Top overall pick Rasmus Dahlin set up Reinhart's 20th goal to extend his assist streak to four games. Linus Ullmark turned aside 18 shots for the Sabres, who have dropped 16 of their last 19 games overall (3-14-2) and 12 consecutive road contests (0-10-2).

After Buffalo outshot New Jersey by a 14-5 margin in a scoreless second period, the Devils gained a 2-1 lead when Zacha's wrist shot from the left circle eluded Ullmark at 4:30 of the third. Zacha's goal was his 12th of the season and gave him points in three straight games since returning from a concussion.

Reinhart appeared to forge a tie just 1:54 later after cleaning up a rebound from the left doorstep, but New Jersey successfully challenged that Evan Rodrigues interfered with Schneider prior to the goal.

The Devils opened the scoring by converting on their first power-play attempt after going 0-for-13 with the man advantage in their previous five games. Coleman worked his way out of the corner and gained a step on Buffalo defenseman Marco Scandella before tucking the puck between the pads of Ullmark at 1:55 of the first period.

Buffalo answered 5 1/2 minutes later, as Reinhart wristed a shot from center ice that saw the puck bounce and skip over the pad but under the glove of Schneider.

Schneider did his best to atone for the flub, making six saves on one Sabres power play midway into the second period. He also recorded a sliding stop at the right post to deny Buffalo captain Jack Eichel in his bid for his 100th career goal.

--Field Level Media