With the goalkeeper out in the final minutes, Paul Cotter had an open street and scored 4-1 in an empty net for New Jersey. Jacob Markstrom made 30 saves in his debut for New Jersey after being signed from Calgary.
In the first period at 2-0, Markström made a fantastic save after Buffalo’s newly appointed team captain Rasmus Dahlin chipped in the puck. On the rebound, only Nicolas Aube-Kubel was supposed to put the puck in, but Markström was there with the stick and made an almost miraculous save in front of, among others, Jaromir Jagr, 52, who took care of the ceremonial drop. Nicklas Lidström was also present.
– It’s not often that I praise goalkeepers, but now I actually have to, says Peter “Foppa” Forsberg in Viaplay.
The match was preceded by a minute’s silence for the fallen brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
Tomorrow, the teams will meet again in the same arena, the O2 Arena.