Devils vs Sabres: Projected Lines; Notes; How to Watch, & More

It’s an early puck drop this morning as the New Jersey Devils look to sweep the back-to-back in Prague against the Buffalo Sabres. The two sides kicked off the 2024-25 season yesterday afternoon to the tune of a 4-1 Devils win.

Less than 24 hours later, the two sides are set to face off again at the O2 Arena in Prague.

The Devils earned their first win of the season and the first one of Sheldon Keefe’s tenure. Goals from newcomers Stefan Noesen, Johnathan Kovacevic, and Paul Cotter were enough to see out the game, but it was the stellar performance by goalie Jacob Markstrom that captured headlines.

After a 2023-24 season that was marred by slow starts and poor goaltending, the Devils got the total opposite last night. However, despite the lopsided score, the Sabres tilted the ice in large spurts and created several high-danger chances. The Devils will need to clean up some of the sloppiness that, fortunately, didn’t cost them because the Sabres will likely come out hungry for the win.

How projected starter Jake Allen follows up a spectacular Markstrom performance may tell the story of the game.

Projected Devils Lineup*

Forwards

Timo Meier – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt

Tomas Tatar – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Ondrej Palat – Erik Haula – Stefan Noesen

Paul Cotter – Curtis Lazar – Nathan Bastian

Defensemen

Brenden Dillon – Dougie Hamilton

Jonas Siegenthaler – Johnathan Kovacevic

Seamus Casey – Simon Nemec

Goaltenders

Jake Allen

Jacob Markstrom

*Lineup subject to change

How to Watch the Devils Game — 10 A.M. EST

Watch: MSG Networks/NHL Network

Radio: DEVILS HOCKEY NET

Player to Watch

After being held off the scoresheet yesterday, today’s player to watch is Jack Hughes. By Jack’s standards, he didn’t have his best night. Despite leading all forwards in TOI, he ended the game with just two shots, a giveaway, and was 1-10 on faceoffs. Coming off of shoulder surgery in the offseason and only one preseason game, it’s fair to say that he may need some time before he fully trusts that it will hold up. As we’ve seen in the past, a tentative Jack Hughes is not nearly as effective as Jack Hughes with full confidence.

Partnered on a line with Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier, he has no shortage of talent at his disposal. Although they were held to just one goal yesterday, the Sabres are a supremely talented offensive team that can put up goals in bunches. With Allen in net, the Devils offense may need to do even more heavy lifting, and it starts with Hughes.

READ: FOCO Releases Rare Devils Jack Hughes Global Series Bobblehead

Next Up

The Devils will fly home from Prague shortly after today’s game and get ready for their home opener on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. They’ll have four days off to adjust to the time change before they hit the ice again for ‘Sheldon Keefe’s revenge game.’

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