Johnathan Kovacevic began his career with the New Jersey Devils with a goal and an assist, and he guided his new team to a 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabers in the first game of the National League schedule hockey, Friday in Prague.
After the ceremonial faceoff made by Czech legend Jaromir Jagr — who still plays in his country — Stefan Noesen scored the first goal of the season, giving the Devils the lead at 8:39 of the opening period.
Kovacevic doubled this lead before the end of the first period, then Nico Hischier made it 3-0 early in the second period.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe cracked a good joke when asked to analyze Kovacevic’s goal after the game.
“Kovechkin you mean! “, laughed the man who led a first game behind the Devils bench.
“Ultimately, the group came together and wanted to offer a high level of competition tonight, and I think they set about the task from the start. From the first throw-in, we invaded the (opponent) net in less than 10 seconds,” he added.
Owen Power scored the only goal for the Sabres, in the middle of the third period, and Paul Cotter sealed the outcome of the game by lodging the puck into an empty net.
Acquired from the Calgary Flames last June, goaltender Jacob Markstrom blocked 30 pucks in his first game with the Devils.
At the other end of the ice, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 19 saves.
The Sabers are hoping to end a 13-season drought without making the playoffs. Head coach Lindy Ruff, who led the team the last time it made the playoffs in 2011, is back after being fired by the Devils.
During his previous reign at the helm, the Sabers made the playoffs eight times and reached the final in 1999.
“The start was probably the biggest difference in the game,” Ruff said.
“(The Devils) were a step ahead of us in the hunt for loose pucks and won more battles early in the game. »
Before the start of the match, players and spectators observed 13 seconds of silence in tribute to Johnny Gaudreau.
The former Columbus Blue Jackets forward and his brother Matthew lost their lives on August 29 while riding their bikes near their hometown in Oldsman Township, New Jersey.
The Devils and Sabers will face each other again on Saturday, at the same location, as part of the NHL Universal Series.
Two other international games will take place on November 1 and 2 in Tampere, Finland, when the Florida Panthers, defending Stanley Cup champions, will face the Dallas Stars.
This is the 11th season the NHL has played games in Europe as part of its efforts to grow the local fan base in hockey-loving countries like the Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland and others.
