HOCKEY

Jacob Markstrom made 30 saves and Paul Cotter had an empty-netter and assist in their debuts with New Jersey as the Devils beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Friday in the NHL regular-season opener that was played in Prague.

After former NHL great Jaromir Jagr, who still plays in the Czech league, dropped a ceremonial puck, Stefan Noesen became the first scorer of the season 8:39 in to put New Jersey up. Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic, also making his Devils debut, made it 2-0, and then Nico Hischier scored early into the second before Owen Power got the Sabres on the scoreboard midway through the third. Cotter made it 4-1.

The teams’ series of games on Friday and Saturday is part of the NHL global series. Two more international games will be played in Tampere, Finland, on Nov. 1-2 when defending Stanley Cup champion Florida faces the Dallas Stars.

This is the 11th season the NHL has played in Europe as part of its efforts to grow the fan base in hockey-mad countries like the Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland and others.

• Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jack Campbell has entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.
The league and union said that Campbell will be away from the Red Wings organization indefinitely while he receives care. He may return to practices and games when cleared by program administrators.

BASKETBALL

NBA: A Georgia businessman was convicted Friday of cheating former NBA stars Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons of $8 million after a trial in Manhattan federal court.

The jury returned its verdict against Calvin Darden Jr. eight years after Darden was sentenced to a year in prison for impersonating his successful father in a failed bid to buy Maxim magazine. In that case, Darden got leniency by cooperating with prosecutors against others charged in the case.

• Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing is returning to the New York Knicks in the newly created position of basketball ambassador.

The Knicks said that Ewing would assist both basketball and business operations in his role.

Taken by the Knicks with the No. 1 pick in the 1985 draft, Ewing went on to play 15 seasons in New York and is the franchise’s career leader in points, rebounds, blocks, steals and games played. The Knicks made the playoffs in his final 13 seasons.

The Knicks retired Ewing’s No. 33 jersey in 2003. He worked as an NBA assistant coach for multiple teams and was the head coach at Georgetown, the team he led to the 1984 NCAA championship, and now has a job with the Knicks.

WNBA: Aces guard Tiffany Hayes earned the WNBA Sixth Person of the Year award Friday, the league announced.
Hayes received 38 of 67 votes from a national media panel. New York’s Leonie Fiebich finished second with 21 votes. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough of Washington and Marina Mabrey of Connecticut were the next two in the voting.

GOLF

PGA TOUR: Beau Hossler did his part on another day of low scoring at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi, missing only one green for an 8-under 64 to take a one-shot lead into the week as he chases his first PGA Tour victory.

Hossler started his round with a three-putt bogey from about 30 feet, and felt like he made just about everything after that, including a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-5 fifth hole.

Daniel Berger, out of golf for 18 months with a back injury, had another round of seven birdies and no bogeys for a 65 and was one shot behind.

EUROPEAN TOUR: Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium and Cameron John of Australia shared the lead at the Dunhill Links Championship in St. Andrews, Scotland, where players ranked outside the top 400 in the world shaded the big names and top golf leaders.

Jon Rahm, one of 14 players from Saudi-funded LIV Golf in the field, bogeyed two of his last three holes for a 71 at Kingsbarns and was six shots behind. Rory McIlroy, playing in a group with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, had a 69 at Kingsbarns and was eight back.

SOCCER

DOPING: Paul Pogba has had his four-year ban for doping reduced to 18 months after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The ruling means the France World Cup winner will be free to resume his career in March 2025.

CAS confirmed earlier reports that the ban was reduced when approached by The Associated Press on Friday. CAS did not elaborate on the decision.

COPA AMERICA: Just-retired striker Luis Suárez has criticized Uruguay Coach Marcelo Bielsa for the way he treated players during the Copa America, saying the “friction” hurts.
Uruguay finished third at the Copa in July in the United States but Suárez said all was not well behind the scenes.