Markstrom, Devils top Sabres in Global Series opener in Prague 

PRAGUE -- Jacob Markstrom made 30 saves, and the New Jersey Devils opened the NHL regular season with a 4-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres at O2 Arena in the 2024 NHL Global Series Czechia presented by Fastenal.

Johnathan Kovacevic and Paul Cotter each had a goal and an assist in their Devils debut. Nico Hischier and Stefan Noesen also scored, and Sheldon Keefe won his first game as coach for New Jersey.

"We've been working hard," Keefe said. "Like I said, it didn't really come together for us in the preseason (the starting group finished 0-4-0), but the signs were there. We've had some really good practices since preseason concluded, and the guys were excited to play, and it showed."

Owen Power scored, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 19 saves for the Sabres. Lindy Ruff was coaching his first regular-season game with Buffalo since being named coach on April 22.

"They scored on their chances and took advantage of their chances," Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin said. "We had a couple early (chances) too, so the start could have gone either way, but it's a good learning lesson for us. We've just got to continue to build. We've got some stuff to work on."

It was the first game outside North America to begin the NHL regular season since 2022, when the Nashville Predators won 4-1 against the San Jose Sharks at O2 Arena.

"It was a great game," said Devils forward Ondrej Palat, who is from Frydek-Mistek, Czechia. "It was an amazing experience. A lot of family, friends. It was a great game. I'm so glad we won today. We have to be ready tomorrow."

The Devils and Sabres will play here again on Saturday (10 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, MSGSN, MSG-B) before returning to North America.

Noesen, who signed as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, gave the Devils a 1-0 lead on a snap shot from the slot at 8:39 of the first period.

Kovacevic made it 2-0 at 15:38 on a slap shot from the point that deflected off a stick and into the top left corner. The defenseman was acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on June 30.

"I saw (Jonas) Siegenthaler on the left side, so I started moving to the middle when I got it," Kovacevic said. "Got on my forehand, shot it, and, I hate to say it, I think it tipped off their guy and went in. Doesn't matter."

Keefe was glad to see Kovacevic get rewarded.

"You mean that goal by 'Kovechkin'?" Keefe said, alluding to Alex Ovechkin when asked about wanting production from his defensemen. "For sure, he's one of the guys working really hard and he's taken advantage of this opportunity, and yes, we want the defense to be involved, too."

Markstrom, who was acquired in a trade with the Calgary Flames on June 19, kept it a two-goal game 1:19 later when he denied Nicolas Aube-Kubel with the paddle of his stick while lunging to his right near the left post.

"It was kind of shot from the point going far side and then I slid over far side and it got tipped and went short side and bounced from the boards and it's just desperation," Markstrom said. "I got lucky and it hit my stick. It's a good time to get lucky."

Hischier extended the lead to 3-0 at 3:29 of the second period. Nathan Bastian took a loose puck behind the Sabres' net before passing to the Devils captain, who scored with a wrist shot from the high slot.

Power cut it to 3-1 at 10:07 of the third period when he scored with a wrist shot from the top of the right face-off circle off a pass from behind the net by Jason Zucker.

Cotter, who was acquired by the Devils in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights on June 29, scored an empty-net goal at 17:28 for the 4-1 final.

"I think this is our league, how close our league is," Ruff said. "You either take advantage of some of those early opportunities and get a team down or you don't. Give them a lot of credit, they took advantage of a couple of those early opportunities. They created a couple great opportunities on their own."

NOTES: The Sabres went 0-for-4 with five shots on goal on the power play. The Devils went 0-for-2. ... Devils defenseman Seamus Casey had two hits and one blocked shot in 13:14 of ice time in his NHL debut. … Noesen has scored for the Devils in each of their past two regular-season games outside North America (2018 Global Series in Sweden). … Former NHL forward Jaromir Jagr dropped the ceremonial puck after a video tribute and rousing ovation from his home country. Jagr was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players during the League's Centennial celebration in 2017. … Prior to the opening face-off, there was a 13-second moment of silence for Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. The Gaudreau brothers were struck by a car and killed while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey on Aug. 30. The No. 13 represented the jersey number Johnny Gaudreau wore as a member of the Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets.