While the preparatory schedule continues in the National Hockey League (NHL), the first match of the regular season was played Friday afternoon in Prague, Czechia.
The Buffalo Sabers and the New Jersey Devils have crossed swords as part of an NHL initiative to promote hockey across the globe. In front of a wild crowd, the Devils won 4 to 1.
Former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic, who now leads the NHL with two points, and goalie Jacob Markstrom were the stars of this meeting.
By opening the scoring in the first period, Devils forward Stefan Noesen however had the honor of scoring the very first goal of the 2024-2025 season.
The first goal of the season 24-25 –
Kovacevic doubled his team’s lead and scored his first goal with his new team before the first intermission. His throw near the blue line surprised goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Johnathan Kovacevic is already opening his account with the Devils! –
Devils fans couldn’t have hoped for better for this start. Captain Nico Hischier added his two cents in the second period and Paul Cotter completed the score with an empty net.
Devils turn Luukkonen’s head –
Already the end of the year?
New Jersey has been looking for a true No. 1 goalie for a long time. They acquired Markstrom to fill that need and he responded by making perhaps the save of the year in the league already. national. Markstrom took out the stick to frustrate Nicolas Aubé-Kubel at point blank range.
Already the save of the year in the NHL? –
It was Owen Power who finally deceived his vigilance in the third period. The goalkeeper finished this first game with the Devils with 30 saves.
This game marked the official return of Lindy Ruff to the helm of the Sabres. The experienced hockey man, who led this team from 1997 to 2013, was rehired by the Sabers this summer and succeeds Don Granato. For New Jersey, it was Sheldon Keefe’s first game at the helm of his new team, after being fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Taking advantage of injuries to Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce, young defenseman Seamus Casey made his NHL debut. Casey, who played with Lane Hutson in the USA Development Program, spent the last two seasons at the University of Michigan. He spent 13:14 on the ice.
The Devils and Sabers will face off again Saturday morning, starting at 10 a.m. Eastern time.
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