The Buffalo Sabres opened their 2024-25 season on Friday with a game against the New Jersey Devils at the O2 Arena. The game, which marked the start of the NHL season, saw coach Lindy Ruff’s squad experience some early-game jitters as they struggled to put the puck in the net despite some clean looks at the goal.

On the flip side, the Devils got off to a strong start, scoring two goals in the first period before adding a third in the second. Then, late in the game, despite a third-period goal from Owen Power, the Devils scored an empty netter to seal the win.

Despite winning 57.6% of the faceoffs, and logging an additional eight shots on net, the team couldn’t find its rhythm. Following the Sabres’ first game of the season, let’s look at three players who disappointed in the team’s 4-1 loss.

3 Buffalo Sabres players who disappointed in Friday’s loss to the New Jersey Devils

#1: JJ Peterka (LW)

JJ Paterka was part of the Buffalo Sabres’ first forward unit, and coach Lindy Ruff had expressed confidence in him during the offseason. While the team made offseason acquisitions to bolster their bottom-six forward group, Ruff was confident in its starting forward unit.

In Friday’s game, they were on the ice for three of the Devils’ four goals, struggling to find their rhythm and giving the Devils opportunities to advance the puck.

#2: Tage Thompson (C)

Buffalo Sabres starting center Tage Thompson, much like JJ Peterka, struggled to find his rhythm throughout the team’s opening game. Alongside Peterka, he contributed to the team’s struggles that saw Ruff’s starting forward line let up three goals.

After posting his worst statistical season in the NHL last year when playing over 40 games, Thompson is a player that many expected to bounce back this season. While that still may be the case for him, it’s hard to understand just how big of a role the starting forward unit played in the team’s loss.

#3: Alex Tuch (RW)

Rounding out the Buffalo Sabres’ starting forward line, Alex Tuch struggled alongside JJ Peterka and Tage Thompson. The line had seven shots on net, with Tuch responsible for two. In addition to being unable to find the back of the net, he shares some of the responsibility for the starting forward line allowing three goals.

Netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen posted a save percentage of 86.4% throughout the game, so it’s easy to blame him too. However, it was the starting forward line of Peterka, Thompson, and Tuch that put the goaltender in tough positions time and time again.