NEW JERSEY DEVILS (1-0-0) VS. BUFFALO SABRES (0-1-0)

The Devils complete the 2024-25 season at O2 Arena in Prague, Czechia against the Buffalo Sabres looking for a sweep.

You can watch the game on MSGSN or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.

Read more in today’s Game Preview. Check back for lineup updates, videos and more.

PRE-GAME MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Check back around 8:00 AM ET for lineup updates and more from Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe’s pre-game media availability

THE SCOOP

The Devils and Sabres are the only team in the NHL to have played a game this season and by the end of Saturday, they will have played two to the rest of the League’s none.

It was the second Devils game outside North America after they defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2018.

Paul Cotter and Johnathan Kovacevic each had a goal and an assist in the win while Jacob Markstrom stopped 30 of 31 shots.

INJURIES

Devils: Pesce (leg), L. Hughes (shoulder), Hatakka (undisclosed)

Sabres: Johnson (lower body)

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• Oct. 4 vs. Buffalo in Prague (W, 4-1)
• Oct. 5 vs. Buffalo in Prague (W, 7-2)
• Feb. 2 at Buffalo

GAME NOTES

• The Devils have now played 42 regular-season openers since their inaugural season in 1982-83. Their record is 24-10-8 which gives them a .659 point%. That ranks fourth all-time behidn Vegas, Tampa Bay and Colorado.
• Sheldon Keefe is the third head coach in NHL history with a win in each of their first three career games contested outside North America. Paul Maurice and former Devils head coach John Hynes are the other two.
• The Devils starting lineup last game had all European-born skaters: Nico Hischier, Simon Nemec, Tomas Tatar, Ondrej Palat, Jonas Siegenthaler and Jacob Markstrom
• Two assists by Nate Bastian marked his first multi-point game since the two goals he scored in Stadium Series last season on February 17.

STATS LEADERS