Hischier: Sabres loss 'another immature performance by us'

New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier had some choice words for his team following its disappointing 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.

"We just got to find a way to win against certain teams, and we haven't done that all year," he said. "That should not happen. Just another immature performance by us."

The Devils held a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission thanks to Max Willman and Jesper Bratt, but it would be all Sabres the rest of the way.

Tage Thompson secured Buffalo's comeback victory with a natural hat trick before adding an empty-netter for his second career four-goal game.

"I don't fault our effort tonight," interim head coach Travis Green said. "I thought, pretty well to a man, every guy in there worked. But there's just a couple little mistakes that you'd like to have back. Some of that's mental, and at this time of the year, it costs you."

The loss dealt New Jersey's playoff hopes a crushing blow. The Devils remain five points behind Washington for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and the Capitals have two games in hand.

Also standing in the Devils' way are the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings.

New Jersey was attempting to win its third game in a row for just the fifth time this season and the first time since December.

"Some things (don't) change," Hischier said. "I think everybody has to look themselves in the mirror. If you play against teams like that, the only way they're going to beat you is you beat yourself. And that's what we did here tonight again."

He continued: "I think everybody in here should finally learn from it and we keep addressing it until everybody gets it. Just like that, we're going to be a playoff team again."

Last season, the Devils bucked a four-year playoff drought and beat the New York Rangers in the opening round before being eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Netminder Jake Allen is aware of New Jersey's situation, but he's still trying to provide some veteran guidance.

"You've gotta have perspective in this situation," he said. "You get four out of six points on this (road trip), you'll take it. But at the same time, I understand how crucial the situation is. We're down to eight games left, you're pushing it here.

"But I've reiterated this since I got here, I've been in this situation before, you can't worry about other teams. You just gotta worry about us."

Next up for the Devils is a clash against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.