The New Jersey Devils secured a convincing 3-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, completing a successful sweep of their regular-season-opening series in the Czech capital. Newcomer Paul Cotter showcased his talent by scoring in both games of the series, adding an assist to his impressive performance. Coach Sheldon Keefe praised Cotter's contribution, highlighting his potential to make a significant impact on the team.
The international games were part of the NHL global series, drawing large crowds with almost 17,000 spectators attending each match. The next stop for the global series will be in Tampere, Finland, where the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, will face off against the Dallas Stars on November 1-2.
In the game, defenseman Seamus Casey and Timo Meier also found the back of the net for the Devils, with Jack Hughes providing two assists. Despite an early goal from Buffalo's Tage Thompson, the Devils rallied back with goals from Casey and Cotter to secure the win.
Buffalo faced challenges as forward JJ Peterka suffered an upper body injury following a hit from defenseman Brenden Dillon, resulting in a concussion. The Sabres struggled on the power play, failing to convert any of their opportunities throughout the series.
The NHL's presence in Europe aims to expand the sport's fan base in countries like the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Finland. Prague has been a frequent host of NHL games, with Stockholm, Sweden, being the only location outside North America to host more games.
Looking ahead, the Sabres will host the Los Angeles Kings, while the Devils will face the Toronto Maple Leafs in their next matchups. The Devils will seek to build on their successful start to the season, while the Sabres will aim to bounce back from their defeat in Prague.
