JJ Peterka scores in hometown return as Sabres blank Red Bull Munich
The Sabres players entered the arena prior to the game in traditional German lederhosen. The coaching and training staff wore fedoras on the bench.
Munich native JJ Peterka was saluted by his hometown crowd both before and after the Buffalo Sabres' exhibition Friday, and he scored the final goal in Buffalo's 5-0 victory over Red Bull Munich in the inaugural game at the German city's new SAP Garden.
A chanting, singing, sellout crowd of 10,796 paid particular attention to Peterka, who played for Red Bull from 2019-2021. His teammates gave him a solo lap prior to the start of pregame warmups and fans shouted his name throughout the game. After missing a couple of scoring chances earlier in the game, Peterka scored his goal on a wrist shot at 3:48 of the third period to close the scoring.
Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff watches from the bench as his team meets Red Bull Munich in Munich, Germany, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP
The Sabres took a 2-0 lead through the first period on goals by Sam Lafferty and Tage Thompson and made it 4-0 in the second as Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn collected goals. Thompson's tally was a mid-air deflection of a Henri Jokiharju shot that almost certainly would have been called back due to a high stick in North America, but stood in this game because there were no coaches' challenge with instant replay.
Buffalo Sabres players, from left, Mattias Samuelsson, Dylan Cozen, Jack Quinn and Zach Benson celebrate a goal during a preseason game aginst Red Bull Munich
in Munich, Germany, on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP
Buffalo outshot Red Bull, 40-17, as goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi split the shutout.
The Sabres players all entered the arena prior to the game in traditional German short lederhosen. The coaching and training staff wore fedoras on the bench.
The Sabres are 5-0 in the preseason, with the main group responsible for three of the wins. Buffalo's prospect team, which has won both of its games, plays Saturday night at 7 in Columbus against the Blue Jackets (WGR Radio).
The main group will be off Saturday to partake in Oktoberfest activities and will practice Sunday in Munich before heading to Prague, where it will open the regular season against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 4.