BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Opening a new season in a foreign land with an old face behind the bench, the Sabres found themselves in a familiar chase.
Buffalo lost 4-1 on Friday in Prague, Czech Republic to start the season under returning coach Lindy Ruff, giving up two goals in the first period and getting stood up by New Jersey goaltender Jacob Markstrom's 30 saves in trying to rally from behind.
“The start was probably the biggest difference in the hockey game,” Ruff said. “They were a step faster to loose pucks, they won more 50-50 battles early on and I thought that was the difference in the game.”
Owen Power scored for the Sabres midway through the final period, after Ruff's former team established a 3-0 lead.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 19 saves for the Sabres, who could not convert a 24-12 edge in shots on goal over the final two periods, and 31-23 shots advantage for the game into a comeback.
Along with falling behind in the first period, the Sabres furthered another trend from their last losing season by going scoreless on four power plays.
The Sabres will play the Devils again at 10 a.m. Saturday to conclude the NHL's Global Series before returning to Buffalo for Thursday's home opener against the Kings.
***
Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.