Devils top Sabres to sweep Prague series

Paul Cotter broke a tie in the third period to help the New Jersey Devils to a 3-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres in the second game of the 2024 NHL Global Series in Prague, Czechia, on Saturday.

Cotter registered his second goal in as many games to put New Jersey in front 2-1 at 7:18 of the third period. He took a feed from Jack Hughes above the circles and cut around Buffalo defenseman Mattias Samuelsson to drive to the net and lift the puck over goaltender Devon Levi's blocker.

Timo Meier put home a centering pass from Jesper Bratt to make the score 3-1 at 14:14 of the third.

Seamus Casey scored his first NHL goal and Hughes had two assists for the Devils, who swept the two-game set. Jake Allen made 17 saves.

Levi had 34 saves, and Tage Thompson scored for the Sabres.

Buffalo forward JJ Peterka left the game six minutes into the first period and did not return after sustaining an upper-body injury on an open-ice hit by New Jersey defenseman Brenden Dillon at the blue line. The 22-year-old remained on the ice for several minutes before being helped off by teammates.

Thompson gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead at 8:18 of the second period. After Alex Tuch's shot from the right circle off the rush was stopped, Jordan Greenway, filling in for Peterka, directed the rebound toward the crease as the Sabres drove to the net. Thompson was on the doorstep to poke the loose puck under Allen's left pad.

The goal came shortly after a big stop by Levi at the other end, getting in front of a Hughes wrister from the right circle on a 2-on-1.

Casey tied it 1-1 on the power play at 11:59 of the second period. Erik Haula and Stefan Noesen exchanged passes down low before Haula sent it over to Casey, who came in from the blue line to the top of the slot and fired a wrist shot through traffic past Levi.

--Field Level Media