NHL

Devils’ latest shootout loss hurts playoff hopes

BUFFALO — The Devils can’t find a way to win a shootout, and it looks like it could cost them a playoff berth.

Ville Leino goal in the ninth round of the shootout gave the Sabres a 3-2 win over the Devils on Tuesday night.

The Devils, 0-11 this season in shootouts, are three points out of the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot.

“We had a bunch of chances to score and we have guys who are good in the shootout,” Zubrus said. “Tough to say it’s luck because it’s been 11 games in a row, but maybe a bit of bad luck has to be there.”

Cory Schneider made 25 saves for New Jersey.

Leino had not scored a goal in regulation all season and has been the subject of catcalls in Buffalo, but drew a roar of approval with his shootout tally.

“Obviously we haven’t been winning that much, so it’s tough times but those kind of moments, you get a little extra energy.”

Tyler Ennis scored twice in the third period and again in the shootout, while Nathan Lieuwen made 33 saves for his first NHL win.

Dainius Zubrus gave the Devils a 1-0 lead at 8:16 of the second period and Tuomo Ruutu tipped Andy Greene’s shot past Lieuwen at 6:58 of the third to tie it 2-2.

The Devils outshot Buffalo 10-8 in the opening period, but dominated possession and had the best chances.

The Devils broke the deadlock in the second, when Michael Ryder’s cross-crease pass appeared to be knocked into the Sabres goal by Jamie McBain. The goal was awarded to Zubrus.

Lieuwen returned to form after the goal, making a diving stick save on Ryder to keep the score 1-0. Moments later, he stopped Ruutu on a partial breakaway.

“The one word that [coach] Teddy [Nolan] keeps using is compete,” Lieuwen said. “I just went out there and competed. Good things happened.”

The Sabres managed just four shots in the second period.

Buffalo got the equalizer 1:39 into the third period on a play started by Drew Stafford and completed by a cross-slot pass from Leino to Ennis, who scored on a wrist shot to become the first Sabres player to score 20 goals this season.

“He’s a dynamic player,” Nolan said. “He scoots in and out, and for him to get that 20, it’s a magical number he was waiting on for a while.”

Buffalo took its first lead of the night on a power play just over three minutes later. Cody Hodgson slid a pass through several players to Ennis, who shot high into the net at 4:41.

“He made a pretty ridiculous pass through two or three guys right on my tape,” Ennis said. “I just had to throw it on the net.”

New Jersey tied the score on the power play, when Ruutu deflected Greene’s shot past Lieuwen.

Lieuwen made back-to-back stops on Adam Henrique and Patrik Elias with just over a minute left in overtime.

He then had a chance to win the game after Stafford scored in the fourth round of the shootout.

“I had a ‘Welcome to the NHL’ moment when [Jaromir] Jagr came down on me with a chance to win the game and I think I was a little too excited about what was happening,” Lieuwen said.

But after Leino scored, Lieuwen rebounded to pick up that first win with a stop on Mike Sislo that he doesn’t quite remember.

“I blacked out,” Lieuwen said. “The guy came in and as soon as I made that save, I was just all smiles. I was excited and I’m very grateful.”

Buffalo snapped a four-game skid with the win, while the Devils now have points in five consecutive games.