A goal and an assist for Johnathan Kovacevic in his first game of the season with the Devils

While most teams are still in training camp, the Devils and Sabres kicked off their season today.

They faced off in Prague, as part of the NHL International Series.

What caught the eye during the game? The performance of Johnathan Kovacevic, who wasted no time in making a name for himself with his new club.

The former Canadian defenseman began by collecting an assist on the first goal of the game, which was scored by Stefan Noesen.

Kovacevic found the forward all alone in the slot, and the latter took advantage to score with a precise shot into the top corner:

FIRST GOAL OF THE SEASON

Well served by Johnathan Kovacevic, Stefan Noesen opens the scoring! pic.twitter.com/lIFDp2HUWn

– NHL (@NHL_EN) October 4, 2024

Moments later, Kovacevic demonstrated (once again) that he can produce offensively in the NHL.

He sent the puck into the net from the point and it found its way into the net :

What a day for the new guys in town.

Johnathan Kovacevic has his first as a Devil! pic.twitter.com/bFBlEnDbLa

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 4, 2024

Two points from Kovacevic to start the season… Let’s just say I didn’t have that on my bingo card this morning when I got up. Hehe.

But if we’re talking about Kovy’s performance, we also have to talk about Jacob Markstrom’s magnificent save.

It may be the first game of the season… But it could really be the save of the season too:

Jacob Markstrom with the save of the year in the first game!?!?!!? #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/BTMbTg7av4

– NHL (@NHL_EN) October 4, 2024

Nico Hischier scored early in the second frame to make it 3-0, but the party was still pogued in the arena on the Sabres fans’ side.

It was a great atmosphere all the same:

Sabres are down 0-3.

The energy you love to see it.

(via: @drosennhl)

pic.twitter.com/rLQcvBtc8t

– BarDown (@BarDown) October 4, 2024

For the good of the cause, the third period was quieter.

Owen Power scored the Sabres’ first goal of the game, but it was too little too late.

Paul Cotter scored into an empty net to secure victory for the Devils (4-1).

In the end, the New Jersey team got the season off to a good start by winning their first game.

Overtime

– Absolutely.

That first Lane Hutson goal, especially if it happens at home, is gonna blow the freaking roof off the Bell Centre

pic.twitter.com/3efYsViXEj

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) October 4, 2024

– Nice lineup.

Flyers projected opening day lineup:

Foerster-Couturier-Konecny
Tippett-Frost-Michkov
Farabee-Luchenko-Brink
Laughton-Poehling-Hathaway

York-Sanheim
Seeler-Drysdale
Zamula-Ristolainen

Ersson
Fedetov

An average age of 26 years old. pic.twitter.com/ojRrNnuapt

– Big Head Hockey (@BigHeadHcky) October 4, 2024