Buffalo, NY (My Sportsbook) - Winners in four of their first five contests, the New Jersey Devils close out a three-game road set tonight when they visit the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena.

Jersey had its three-game season-opening win streak halted with a 3-1 loss to Carolina last Saturday to start the trek, but rebounded nicely with a 2-1 triumph in Atlanta on Wednesday night.

Scott Gomez contributed a goal and an assist, and Jeff Friesen scored his first goal in a Devils uniform as Pat Burns' troops staved off a desperate, and winless, Thrashers club. Martin Brodeur continued his torrid start with 24 saves and fell 1.7 seconds shy of his 56th career shutout. Atlanta finally made its way onto the scoreboard when sophomore phenom Ilya Kovalchuk converted a power-play in the waning moments.

Brodeur has started all five Devils games, and posted a 1.80 goals-against average and .927 save-percentage. The two-time Stanley Cup champion has allowed more than two goals just once so far -- last Saturday versus the Hurricanes.

There are some negatives to speak of in the midst of the Devils' hot start. They have scored just 11 goals in five games, and their power-play is an NHL- worst 2-for-33 (6.1 percent).

New Jersey heads home after tonight and will begin a four-game set at the Meadowlands on Saturday versus Tampa Bay. Carolina, Chicago and Calgary also visit East Rutherford during the stand.

Buffalo, meanwhile, hopes to win its second straight match after snapping a three-game winless streak (0-2-1) in Tuesday's 2-1 home victory over Philadelphia. Vaclav Varada and Miroslav Satan provided goals in the triumph, with Satan taking advantage of a Philly turnover to score the game-winner midway through the third period. Martin Biron made 21 saves while out-dueling counterpart Roman Cechmanek, and held on in the final seconds as the Flyers pressed with an extra attacker.

Chris Gratton added a pair of assists for the Sabres, and now leads the team with 10 points (3g, 7a). Satan's tally was his club-high fourth of the young season.

Defenseman Alexei Zhitnik suffered a bruised knee during Tuesday's win when he collided with Philadelphia's John LeClair in the third period. He did not practice on Wednesday, but it is expected that he'll be ready to play this evening.

Buffalo caps off a four-game homestand tonight, and will leave town shortly after the tilt. Lindy Ruff's club opens a six-game road trip Saturday in Pittsburgh.

New Jersey went 2-1-1 against Buffalo last season, but the Sabres are 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings overall. The Devs are 0-4-1 in their last five trips to HSBC Arena.