BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Sabres forward JJ Peterka did not return to Saturday’s game in Prague, Czech Republic after taking a hard hit to the head from Devils defenseman Brendan Dillon in the first period.
Buffalo’s leading scorer last season with 28 goals, Peterka was knocked down by Dillon’s check while skating through the neutral zone. Peterka grabbed the back of his head upon landing, and he was assisted to the bench by Sabres teammates Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens, while Alex Tuch instigated a fight with Dillon.
Dillon received a two-minute penalty for interference after officials reviewed video replays and determined that Dillon’s check did not merit a major penalty.
***
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.