Devils’ Party Includes 8-4 Victory

After raising their second Stanley Cup banner in five years, the New Jersey Devils kept the party going against the Montreal Canadiens.

Alexander Mogilny scored two goals and the Devils unleashed a powerful offense Friday night in opening their defense of the Cup with an 8-4 victory over the Canadiens.

“I think everybody has to be worried who plays against us,” Devil forward Patrik Elias said.

Bobby Holik, Sergei Nemchinov, Colin White, Petr Sykora, former Canadien Turner Stevenson and Steve Kelly also scored for the Devils.

“It was a very emotional night,” Devil Coach Larry Robinson said.

Before the game, John McMullen, 82, closed out his 18 years as owner of the Devils, raising the Stanley Cup banner in an emotional ceremony.

The 20-minute ceremony featured videotape highlights of the Devils’ run through the playoffs last spring, a laser show and the carrying of the Cup onto the ice.

However, it was mainly a tribute to McMullen, who was responsible for bringing NHL hockey to New Jersey and building a team that won two championships in the last five years.

McMullen agreed to sell the team to YankeeNets for $175 million last season. The deal was finalized during the summer, shortly after the Devils defeated the Dallas Stars in six games to win the Cup.

The white-haired McMullen received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 19,040 at the Continental Airlines Arena as he walked onto the ice.