NHL | The Swedish NHL guard stunned in the opening game of the season – “Are you serious?”

NHL season 2024–25 started on Friday evening Finnish time, when the New Jersey Devils and the Buffalo Sabers met at the O2 arena in Prague, Czech Republic.

The program for the first rounds of the Taalaliiga is special, as many other teams are still looking for practice matches in North America this weekend. No fewer than eight training games are played in the NHL on the night between Friday and Saturday.

In North America, the first NHL regular season game will not be played until Tuesday evening Finnish time.

Prague in the match, Buffalo was the opponent in the claws of the Devils.

Finnish guard Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was powerless as New Jersey rolled over Buffalo 4-1.

New Jersey jumped out to a two-goal lead in the opening set. Stefan Noesen scored the opening goal and Johnathan Kovasevic Devils second hit.

Buffalo couldn’t get their game rolling at all in the opening set, but was in serious trouble with New Jersey’s aggressive attack.

In the second period, Buffalo improved slightly, but New Jersey’s captain Nico Hischier took the red shirts to a 3–0 lead right at the start of the set. At this point, the match seemed clear.

In the third period, Buffalo turned up the heat when the defender Owen Power brought his team within two goals. However, Buffalo did not get any closer than this.

of New Jersey Paul Cotter beat Final Scores 4–1 into an empty crease.

Big name New Jersey flopped last season, but the team should rise to the top of the league this season. The opening match was promising.

The Devils’ big acquisition of the summer, the Swedish goalkeeper who moved from Calgary to New Jersey Jacob Markströmlet only one puck behind his back and got off to a good start in his new club.

In the opening set, Markström stretched to a spectacular stick save. The Swede’s miracle save was hinted at on the NHL’s official X account.

“Are you serious Jacob Markström?” was updated in the accompanying text.

Buffalo has missed the playoffs 13 times in a row. Now the club is trying to turn its course with the new head coach Lindy Ruffin in the lead, but based on the opening match there is plenty of work to do.

Buffalo quarterback Henri Jokiharju remained without power points in the evening’s match, as did the New Jersey center Erik Haula.

Buffalo and the New Jersey Devils will meet again on Saturday at 5 p.m.