The New Jersey Devils showed their dominance over the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, sweeping their regular-season-opening series in the Czech capital. Newcomer Paul Cotter, who has been making a strong impact, scored in both games, including the 3-1 victory on Saturday. He also contributed with an assist in the series.
In addition to Cotter’s performance, defenseman Seamus Casey and Timo Meier also found the back of the net, while Jack Hughes provided two assists for the Devils. The team outshot the Sabres 37-18, showcasing their offensive prowess.
Buffalo’s Tage Thompson managed to open the scoring in the second period, but Casey quickly responded with a power play goal in his second career NHL game. Jack Hughes set up Cotter for the go-ahead goal in the final period, securing the win for the Devils.
The game was not without its share of injuries, as Buffalo forward JJ Peterka had to leave the ice after a hit from defenseman Brenden Dillon due to an upper body injury. Meanwhile, Czech forward Ondrej Palat missed the game as he was flying back to America for the birth of his second child.
Looking ahead, the Devils will be relying on their goaltenders Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen, as well as the return of top-six defensemen Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce from injury. The Sabres, on the other hand, struggled on the power play in the series, failing to convert on any of their opportunities.
The NHL’s global series aims to expand the fan base in hockey-loving countries like the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Finland. Prague has been a popular host city for these international games, with Stockholm, Sweden, being the only location outside North America to have hosted more games.
Next up, the Sabres will face the Los Angeles Kings, while the Devils will take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in their upcoming games. The Devils will look to carry their momentum from the sweep in Prague, while the Sabres will aim to bounce back from the losses.