Stefan Noesen ratings the very first objective of the NHL season (0:35)
Stefan Noesen puts the Devils on the board to log the very first objective of the 2024-25 NHL season. (0:35)
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ESPN News Services
Oct 4, 2024, 05:04 PM ET
PRAGUE– Jacob Markstrom made 30 conserves and Paul Cotter had an empty-netter and help in their launchings with New Jersey as the Devils beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Friday in the NHL regular-season opener that was played in the capital of Czechia (commonly understood in English as the Czech Republic).
After previous NHL fantastic Jaromir Jagr, who still plays in the Czech league, dropped a ritualistic puck, Stefan Noesen ended up being the very first scorer of the season 8:39 in to put New Jersey up. Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic, likewise making his Devils launching, made it 2-0, and after that Nico Hischier scored early in the 2nd before Owen Power got the Sabres on the scoreboard midway through the 3rd. Cotter made it 4-1.
“Ultimately, the group simply gathered and wished to complete at the high level tonight, and I believe they got after it right from the start,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe stated. “From the opening faceoff we were all over the internet within 10 seconds.”
The groups’ series of video games on Friday and Saturday belongs to the NHL Global Series. 2 more worldwide video games will be played in Tampere, Finland, on Nov. 1-2 when protecting Stanley Cup champ Florida deals with the Dallas Stars.
This is the 11th season the NHL has actually played in Europe as part of its efforts to grow the fan base in hockey-mad nations like Czechia, Sweden, Finland and others.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 19 conserves for Buffalo.
The Sabres wish to end a 13-season playoff dry spell this year. Coach Lindy Ruff, who assisted them to their last postseason in 2011, is back after he was fired by New Jersey. Throughout his previous stint from 1997 to 2012, Buffalo advanced 8 times and reached the Stanley Cup last in 1999.
“The start was most likely the most significant distinction in the hockey video game,” Ruff stated. “They were an action much faster to loose pucks, they won more 50-50 fights early on and I believed that was the distinction in the video game.”
Takeaways
Devils: After stopping working to make the playoffs for the 10th time in 12 seasons, New Jersey had important contributions from newbies. Keefe was employed in May after being fired by Toronto; Noesen was signed to the group after formerly betting New Jersey in 2016-19; Kovacevic was gotten in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens, Cotter in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights and Markstrom in a trade with the Calgary Flames.
Sabres: Buffalo was not able to benefit from 4 power-play chances.
Secret minute
Before the puck dropped, gamers and viewers observed 13 seconds of silence to honor Johnny Gaudreau.