Newcomers propel Devils to season-opening win in Prague

PRAGUE — Paul Cotter had a objective and an help in his Devils debut as New Jersey beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Friday within the NHL regular-season opener performed within the Czech Republic capital.

Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who was acquired within the offseason in a commerce with the Calgary Flames, had 30 saves in his New Jersey debut.

After former NHL nice Jaromir Jagr, who nonetheless performs within the Czech league, dropped a ceremonial puck, Stefan Noesen turned the primary scorer of the season 8:39 in to offer the Devils a 1-0 lead.

Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic made it 2-0, after which Nico Hischier scored early into the second earlier than Owen Energy received the Sabres on the scoreboard halfway by means of the third.

Cotter made it 4-1 on an open web.

The groups’ sequence of video games on Friday and Saturday is a part of the NHL world sequence.

Two extra worldwide video games shall be performed in Tampere, Finland, on Nov. 1-2 when defending Stanley Cup champion Florida faces the Dallas Stars.

That is the eleventh season the NHL has performed in Europe as a part of its efforts to develop the fan base in hockey-mad international locations just like the Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland and others.

After failing to make the playoffs for the tenth time in 12 seasons, the Devils acquired priceless contributions from different newcomers apart from Markstrom of their opening win.

Coach Sheldon Keefe was employed in Could after being fired by Toronto; Kovacevic was acquired in a commerce with the Montreal Canadiens and Cotter got here in a commerce with the Vegas Golden Knights and

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Earlier than the puck dropped, gamers and spectators noticed 13 seconds of silence to honor Johnny Gaudreau.

The Columbus Blue Jackets ahead was killed alongside together with his brother Matthew on Aug. 29 whereas bicycling in New Jersey.