Buffalo, NY (WGR550)  -- A three-goal third period deficit was too much for the Sabres to overcome in the third period, as the team dropped a 3 to 2 decision to the New Jersey Devils in front of a jam-packed HSBC Arena crowd Saturday night.  As a result, the team failed to gain ground in their pursuit of a playoff spot.

David Clarkson gave the Devils an early one to nothing lead over Buffalo with his unassisted goal 2:28 into the game.  The goal came after a rebound was directed out toward the blue line by Ryan Miller, and the quick shot by Clarkson beat the Buffalo netminder.  Zach Parise upped the lead to 2-0 with his forty-fourth goal of the season.  Parise redirected a shot by Paul Martin past Miller.  Martin was credited with an assist on the extra man score.

Jamie Langenbrunner added to the New Jersey lead with his twenty-eighth goal of the season, 3-0 Devils just about midway through the second period.  Bobby Holik received the lone assist on the goal.  The Sabres were quite in the middle period, with just four shots on Martin Brodeur.  New Jersey peppered Miller with fourteen shots, and he was up to the task on thirteen.  Neither team was called for a penalty in the middle stanza as well.

Mikael Tellqvist replaced Miller in goal to start the third period.  Jochen Hecht's persistence paid off for Buffalo as he slipped a rebound chance past Brodeur to get the Sabres on the board. The goal cut into New Jersey's lead to 3-1 nearly halfway through the third.  Derek Roy picked up his forty-second assist of the year on the goal.  Toni Lydman was also credited with a helper.  Clarke MacArthur's goal with under four minutes to go in the third cut the Devils' lead to 3-2.  Craig Rivet and Tim Connolly added assists.

Colin White took a late delay of game penalty with under one minute to go in the third, but Buffalo could not get the equalizer.  The team pulled Tellqvist in favor of the extra man, but it did not matter.  The Sabres managed 23 shots in the final period, 37 overall in the game.  Brodeur made thirty-five saves for the victory.  Ryan Miller made 19 saves on 22 in two periods of work.  Mikael Tellqvist was a perfect six-for-six in the final period.

Buffalo still trails the New York Rangers by four points for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.  The team still has one game in hand on the Rangers as well.  The team is off until Monday when they host the Detroit Red Wings at seven o'clock on the Sabres Radio Network, including WGR Sports Radio 550.  The game will be televised on the Versus network, which means the only place to hear Rick and Harry is the Sabres Radio Network.  Pregame coverage begins at six.

For the latest Sabres news, stay tuned to WGR Sports Radio 550 and wgr550.com

Photo courtesy of the A.P.