New Jersey

New Jersey Bedevils Buffalo in Back-to-Back Losses

Published

1 year ago

October 5, 2024

Press Room

New Jersey Bedevils Buffalo in Back-to-Back Losses

Devils outshoot, outscore the Sabres in second consecutive defeat.

Score: Sabres 1, Devils 3

Shots: BUF: 18, NJD: 37

Buffalo Sabres Goals: Tage Thompson (1)

New Jersey Devils Goals: Seamus Casey (1) PPG, Paul Cotter (2), Timo Meier (1)

Minus 1: Biased Officiating Strikes Again

Almost seven minutes into the opening period, Devils forward Brenden Dillon hit JJ Peterka in the face, forcing him out of the game. Alex Tuch quickly responded by dropping the gloves with Dillon. The refs gave both players five minutes for fighting, while Dillon sat in the box for just two extra minutes with a minor penalty. Rob Ray called the slap on the wrist penalty a “joke”.

Once again, on-ice officials practiced a double standard when it came to hits. If the situation were reversed, does anybody believe the zebras would give a Buffalo player a two-minute minor for a dirty hit like Dillon’s? Sabres’ fans know the answer and they’re beyond sick of the NHL’s biased officiating.

Plus 1: TNT Puts Buffalo on the Board First

After a 0-0 first period, with the Devils outshooting the Sabres and getting multiple scoring opportunities, Tage Thompson finally broke the impasse midway through the second, poking the puck past New Jersey goalie Jake Allen. Thompson’s poker gave Buffalo some life, forcing the Devils to respond.

No. 72 suffered a production decline last season, so watching him get an early goal is a hopeful sign of more to come. It’s also nice to see TNT get creative with his puck-handling skills, instead of always shooting 20 feet from the net.

Minus 2: Poor Play on Offense, Defense Dooms Sabres’ Comeback

Sabres’ fans had high hopes for 2024-25, thinking maybe, just maybe the Blue and Gold would start this hockey year strong. They were disappointed, watching Buffalo blow the season opener, 4-1 in Prague and then losing the rematch 3-1. New Jersey dominated throughout, outshooting the visitors in all three periods.

The score was tied until the third, when Paul Cotter beat Devon Levi with a wrist shot 7:18 into the final 20 with an assist with Jack Hughes. With 5:48 to go, Timo Meier wrapped the puck around while Levi was on the opposite side of the net, getting a wide open goal to make it 3-1 Devils and putting the game out of reach.

Mad28dog had the Comment of the Game: “That was ugly…and inevitable”. The Devils controlled the game throughout, getting multiple shots on goal and forcing the Sabres to play most of the matchup in their own zone. The Blue and Gold struggled to clear the puck and spent the majority of their time trying to block shots instead of getting pucks to New Jersey’s net. Watching the game, viewers knew sooner or later the Devils would open up the scoring, which they did in the third, while the Sabres failed to answer.

Plus 2: Levi Gets an E for Effort

Buffalo backup goalie Devon Levi was one of the Sabres’ few bright spots in this contest, blocking 34 of 37 shots and being tested repeatedly during 60 minutes. No. 27 carried the team on his back most of the day, doing his best to keep the game from getting out of hand. Unfortunately, Buffalo’s D hung him out to dry and his netminding wall finally crumbled midway through the final period. If the Sabres shore up their defense and limit the number of shots on net, Levi can be a reliable goalie, giving the team breathing room in breakaways and helping take away opponents’ scoring chances.

Final Thoughts

This definitely wasn’t the season start the Sabres or their fans wanted, flying home after back-to-back losses in Prague. It’s even more humiliating for head coach Lindy Ruff, who watched the team he previously coached beat his Sabres and made New Jersey’s managers look smart for canning him. Ruff and the roster have to lick their wounds and get back to work, because it’s a long season and will be even longer if they can’t find an answer.

The Buffalo Sabres host the L.A. Kings on Thursday night in their first home ice opener. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. at KeyBank Center.

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New Jersey

N.J. group demands review of Trenton immigration arrest operation at auto shop

Published

9 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

N.J. group demands review of Trenton immigration arrest operation at auto shop

U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-Mercer, said in a statement on Facebook that she has been briefed about the incident and her office is monitoring the situation.

Pazmino said her organization is calling on members of the community to come together.

“Brown and Black immigrant communities and nonimmigrant communities are welcome, and should be uniting against this force,” she said.

She is also calling on local officials to assist relatives of those taken into custody.

“We need to support families affected by these kidnappings, with mutual aid, donations and anything else you think will help each other,” Pazmino said.

A woman identified as Andrea, while holding her 1-year-old daughter, Genesis, tearfully spoke in Spanish about the anguish she feels and her fears about the future without her husband Christian, one of the men taken into custody. A friend, who translated her word into English, said Christian was a good and honest man.

“If he used to see a neighbor carrying something heavy, he would run to help them. If a friend needed a favor, he didn’t ask, he just did it,” she said.

Andrea (left) whose husband, Christian, was taken into custody during a raid on a Trenton auto repair shop, holds her 1-year-old daughter, Genesis, while translator Ashley Batz reads her statement in English. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

She said “his daughter was his whole world. He would wake up to her and give her kisses every morning. He would play with her after a long day at work. He loved us and protected us. He didn’t do anything wrong, so why was he taken?”

The Rev. Erich Kussman, St. Bartholomew’s pastor, said the entire Lutheran Church stands with the family.

“Anything you need, you can come to us. I want you to know that. I will stand with you, and we will do what we can to protect you, because that’s the call of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said.

“Standing with ICE is antithetical to the gospel of Jesus Christ, hands down,” he added. “Fifty-one times the scriptures tell us to welcome the immigrant and foreigner as one of our own. If you’re not living true to that gospel, the words of Christ himself, you are not a Christian, no matter what you claim to be.”

With immigration enforcement activity on the rise in New Jersey, lawmakers have proposed several bills to expand protections for immigrant communities. One measure called the “Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered Act” would allow individuals to file a lawsuit against ICE agents who violate their constitutional rights.

Asma Elhuni speaking at a podium — Asma Elhuni, an organizer with Resistencia En Acción NJ speaks at a press conference at St. Bartholomew Lutheran Church in Trenton, joined by pastor Erich Kussman. The group was responding to the detention of three workers at Agudo’s Repair Shop on Feb. 20, 2026. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

Another proposed bill would require any business that operates a private prison or detention facility in the state to pay a tax equal to 50% of the taxpayer’s gross receipts derived from the operation of the facility during the previous year. The bill also stipulates all revenues generated would go to an “immigration protection fund.”

Recently proposed legislation would prohibit ICE agents from ever holding a public job in the Garden State, and New Jersey U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim are proposing legislation to prevent new funding for the Department of Homeland Security from being used to purchase a warehouse in Roxbury, New Jersey.

Requests for comment from ICE and the U.S. Marshals Service were not immediately returned.

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New Jersey

Spring’s coming; Sunny, warm Saturday and significant warm-up ahead NJ

Published

21 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Spring’s coming; Sunny, warm Saturday and significant warm-up ahead NJ

A brief respite from cold weather is ahead of New Jersey this weekend, before temperatures continue to rise late next week, according to the National Weather Service.

Saturday, Feb. 28 will be sunny across the Garden State, and temperatures will be comfortable, reaching the high 40s and low 50s.

Then, a brief artic cold front is expected to move into the region late on Saturday night, bringing temps to low 30’s and some scattered snow showers on Sunday, especially in North Jersey.

During the week, a couple low pressure systems are in the NWS forecast. Little snow if any is expected from these systems, especially in the late week, when a significant warm-up is expected.

Asbury Park and Monmouth County weekend weather forecast

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Sunday: Partly sunny and a chance of snow before 1 p.m. The high should be near 39. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Wildwoods and Atlantic County weather forecast

Saturday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 56.

Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Sunday: Partly sunny and a slight chance of rain before 1 p.m. The high should be near 44. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19.