<p>BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jesper Boqvist scored the go-ahead goal with 11:15 remaining and the New Jersey Devils overcame the disappointment of having two key veteran forwards traded to beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-3 on Thursday night.</p>
<p>Pavel Zacha scored two power-play goals, and Jack Hughes snapped a 10-game scoring drought while adding two assists in a game the Devils rallied in after squandering a 3-1 first-period lead. Yegor Sharangovich and Janne Kuokkanen, who scored an empty-netter, had a goal and assist each.</p>
<p>Aaron Dell stopped 24 shots in making his third start of the season and pick up his first win in more than 14 months. Dell had gone 0-6-1 in eight appearances since he made 28 saves for San Jose in a 6-3 win at Edmonton on Feb. 6, 2020.</p>
<p>The win snapped the Devils 0-2-2 skid, and came a day after Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac were packaged in a trade to the New York Islanders for two draft picks, including a first-rounder, and two minor-league forwards.</p>
<p>Victor Olofsson, Jeff Skinner and Tage Thompson scored for Buffalo, which had gone 3-0-2 in its past five. Linus Ullmark finished with 32 saves in a game between two of the East Division’s worst teams, who are all but mathematically out of playoff contention.</p>
<p>The Devils recovered by erupting for a three-goal third period after allowing the Sabres to score twice in the second period to tie it at 3.</p>
<p>Michael McLeod set up the go-ahead goal by catching Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour flatfooted in chasing down a loose puck behind the Buffalo net. McLeod’s wrap-around attempt banked off Ullmark’s pad and into the slot, where Boqvist buried it inside the left post.</p>
<p>Though coach Lindy Ruff termed it as a “tough day” for the Devils as a result of the trade, he placed the onus on his young core of players to come out with energy and enthusiasm.</p>
<p>The youngsters responded after giving up Olofsson’s goal 53 seconds in. Zacha scored power-play goals 1:40 apart to put the Devils the lead at the 3:46 mark of the first period. </p>
<p>And then Hughes scored from the slot with 3:56 left in the opening period. A forechecking Sharangovich sparked the goal by forcing Buffalo’s Jacob Bryson to turn the puck over along the right boards.</p>
<p>Thompson, with a power-play goal, and Skinner scored over the final 8:04 of the second period to tie it at 3.</p>
<p>SWEDISH CENTURY</p>
<p>Sabres defensman Rasmus Dahlin had the secondary assist on Skinner’s goal for his 100th career point. Five days shy of his 21st birthday, the 2018 No. 1 draft pick became the youngest Swedish-born defenseman to reach that milestone. Erik Karlsson reached 100 points at the age of 21 and 199 days.</p>
<p>It also came in his 180th career game, the second-fastest among blue-liners in Sabres history, behind Phil Housley, who picked up his 100th point in his 106th game.</p>
<p>TAKING ADVANTAGE</p>
<p>The Devils converted two power-play opportunities in the same game for the first time this season, and after entering the game going 1 of 19 in their previous seven outings. New Jersey converted two or more power-play chances eight times last season, the most recent going 2 of 3 in a 3-0 win at Anaheim on March 1, 2020.</p>
<p>HALL PASS</p>
<p>Sabres forward Taylor Hall was a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game in anticipation the pending unrestricted free agent will be dealt before the NHL’s trade deadline on Monday. Hall signed a one-year, $8 million contract with Buffalo in free agency in October.</p>
<p>ON HISCHIER ALERT</p>
<p>Devils captian Nico Hischier is nearing his return after missing his 22nd consecutive game with an upper-body injury. Hischier, who is still listed week to week, traveled with the Devils after resuming practice on Wednesday.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Devils: Return home for two-game set against Pittsburgh, starting Friday night.</p>
<p>Sabres: Host Washington on Friday night. </p>
<hr />
<p>More AP NHL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/NHL">https://apnews.com/hub/NHL</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Sports">https://twitter.com/AP_Sports</a></p>
