5–6

Final

Scoring	1st	2nd	3rd	F
NJD	1	0	4	5
BUF	3	2	1	6

Devils at Sabres

Sabres beat Devils 6–5 at KeyBank Center on December 31, 1996.

🗓 Tue, Dec 31, 1996 · 18:30 CST 📍 KeyBank Center, Buffalo 🏒 1996-97 🔁 Sabres lead the season series 2–0 Head-to-head history →

⭐ Three stars

Best games by the box score

1st star 😈 NJD

Bill Guerin

3 G, 1 A

5 shots · +2

2nd star 😈 NJD

Bobby Holik

4 A

2 shots · +2

3rd star ⚔️ BUF

Alexei Zhitnik

1 G, 1 A

2 shots · -1

🚨 Scoring

11 goals · in order

1st period

⚔️ Brian Holzinger Go-ahead 1st · 04:08

Assists: Donald Audette, Dixon Ward

0–1

😈 Bill Guerin Tying 1st · 11:09

Assists: Bobby Holik, Shawn Chambers

1–1

⚔️ Rob Ray Go-ahead 1st · 14:27

Assists: Wayne Primeau, Barrie Moore

1–2

⚔️ Michael Peca SH 1st · 18:25

Assists: Alexei Zhitnik

1–3

2nd period

⚔️ Alexei Zhitnik PP 2nd · 01:17

Assists: Donald Audette, Dixon Ward

1–4

⚔️ Derek Plante 2nd · 14:56

Assists: Matthew Barnaby, Mike Wilson

1–5

3rd period

😈 Brian Rolston 3rd · 05:02

Assists: John MacLean, Jay Pandolfo

2–5

⚔️ Richard Smehlik PP 3rd · 10:21

Assists: Darryl Shannon, Jason Dawe

2–6

😈 Bill Guerin PP 3rd · 11:35

Assists: Scott Niedermayer, Bobby Holik

3–6

😈 Bill Guerin 3rd · 17:55

Assists: Bobby Holik, Dave Andreychuk

4–6

😈 Dave Andreychuk 3rd · 18:21

Assists: Bobby Holik, Bill Guerin

5–6

📊 Team stats

Away left · home right

😈NJD BUF⚔️

36 Shots on goal 24

1/6 Power play (goals / chances) 2/4

30 Penalty minutes 34

NJD shooting 13.9% (5/36) BUF shooting 25.0% (6/24)

🥅 Goaltending

Saves, shots faced and save percentage

😈Devils

Mike Dunham

0/3

.000 SV% · 3 GA · 39:03 TOI

Martin Brodeur

0/3

.000 SV% · 3 GA · 20:00 TOI

⚔️Sabres

Dominik Hasek

0/5

.000 SV% · 5 GA · 60:00 TOI

🔮 Period by period

After 1st — 1–3

Devils

Devils: no games found in this situation this year.

Sabres

Sabres: no games found in this situation this year.

After 2nd — 1–5

Devils

Devils: no games found in this situation this year.

Sabres

Sabres: no games found in this situation this year.

⚔️ Last meetings

Sabres lead the season series 2–0 Full head-to-head →

Dec 23, 1996

⚔️BUF @ 😈NJD

0–0 (OT) · Sabres won

Feb 16, 1996

😈NJD @ ⚔️BUF

2–2 (OT) · Devils won

❓ NJD vs BUF, answered

Who won Devils vs Sabres on December 31, 1996?

Sabres won 6–5.

What was the final score of Devils vs Sabres?

The final score was Devils 5, Sabres 6.

Who scored for Devils?

Bill Guerin (3), Brian Rolston, Dave Andreychuk.

Who scored for Sabres?

Alexei Zhitnik, Brian Holzinger, Derek Plante, Michael Peca, Richard Smehlik, Rob Ray.

How did the Devils goalie play?

Mike Dunham made 0 saves on 3 shots (.000 save percentage).

How did the Sabres goalie play?

Dominik Hasek made 0 saves on 5 shots (.000 save percentage).

Where is Devils vs Sabres played?

At KeyBank Center in Buffalo, the Sabres home rink.

What is the Devils vs Sabres season series?

Sabres lead the season series 2–0 after 2 games.

Have a different question? Ask the Oracle — it answers from this season's box scores.

🧭 Around this game

Each team's schedule either side of it

😈Devils

Previous game · Dec 28

⚔️Sabres

Previous game · Dec 28

Also on December 31, 1996

Devils season page Sabres season page Head-to-head record Full NHL schedule