Devils complete 2-game Global Series sweep of Sabres in Prague

PRAGUE -- Seamus Casey scored his first NHL goal, Jack Hughes had two assists, and the New Jersey Devils swept the Buffalo Sabres in the 2024 NHL Global Series Czechia presented by Fastenal with a 3-1 victory at O2 Arena on Saturday.

Paul Cotter and Timo Meier scored, and Jake Allen made 17 saves for the Devils (2-0-0), who won 4-1 here on Friday.

"It's big," Cotter said. "It's the start of the season and toward the end of the year, every team knows it could be a matter of two points, one point, so these are the ones that count. Obviously, what an experience for us but it's always awesome to go home with two wins."

Tage Thompson scored for the Sabres (0-2-0), and Devon Levi made 34 saves in his season debut.

"You've got to give them credit, they played hard," Thompson said. "They didn't make it easy on us. We just got to find a way to bear down and get another one. For the most part, one goal is not going to win you a game. We know that and we've got to find a way to score more."

Thompson gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead at 8:18 of the second period when he stuffed a loose puck under the pad of Allen at the right post.

"I thought our first 40 minutes were really strong," Thompson said. "There's one or two mistakes we make in the third and they capitalize on it."

Casey, playing his second NHL game, tied it 1-1 with a power-play goal at 11:59. After taking a pass at the left point, the 20-year-old defenseman took a few strides and sent a wrist shot into the top left corner.

"This whole week has been a blast," Casey said. "The guys have just been great, welcoming me in. I talked about it before ... it's not your normal first experience in the NHL, but it's been super fun and to get two wins has just been awesome. It was an awesome way to start right."

Cotter made it 2-1 on a wrist shot 7:18 into the third period, skating down the slot after taking a pass from Hughes near the right wing half boards.

"It's always good to get that one," Cotter said. "It was the game-winner. Jack made a [heck] of a play. I just tried to get up the ice as fast as I could and obviously guys like that are able to make pretty good plays, so I just tried to get open for him."

The Devils were without Ondrej Palat, who is from Frydek-Mistek, Czechia. The forward returned to the United States to be with his wife for the birth of their second child.

Cotter filled in for Palat on the third line with Erik Haula and Stefan Noesen.

"I've said it before, I think [Cotter's] got more and more to offer our group than what he's shown in the League previously, and he needs to earn that and show it every day," Keefe said. "I thought he just played a good game. I was bouncing him around and used him on different lines to give him some extra minutes."

Meier pushed it to 3-1 on a shot from the left post at 14:14. Jesper Bratt attempted a wraparound that hit the right post and deflected to Meier.

"It definitely feels good to have a good start to the season," Meier said. "We knew it was going to be tough, to travel to start to season over here; there was a lot of stuff going on. But it was a good team effort and everybody contributed."

Each team next plays Thursday, with the Sabres hosting the Los Angeles Kings, and the Devils hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"I think we're going to find out more and more about the group," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "Dealing with adversity is something that can make your team a lot stronger and we're going to deal with some adversity. Obviously, we're not happy. We've got a lot of work ahead, but it's something that you've got to take as a challenge right now."

NOTES: Sabres forward JJ Peterka sustained a concussion in the first period after he was hit by Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon and did not return. ... Forward Jiri Kulich of Kadan, Czechia, had two hits in 14:00 of ice time in his season debut in his home country for Buffalo. ... The line of Hughes, Bratt and Meier combined for 19 shots on goal, one more than the Sabres' team total. ... New Jersey last began a season 2-0-0 in 2021-22. … Keefe, who won two regular-season games in Sweden as Maple Leafs coach last season, became the first coach in NHL history to win four regular-season games played outside North America, surpassing John Hynes (3-0-0), Paul Maurice (3-1-0) and Tom Renney (3-1-0).