Kovalchuk Is A Healthy Scratch

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) High-scoring left wing Ilya Kovalchuk is a healthy scratch for the New Jersey Devils' game against the Buffalo Sabres.

Kovalchuk had two goals and three assists in the Devils' first seven games.

Kovalchuk signed a controversial 17-year, $102 million contract in the offseason that the NHL said circumvented its salary-cap rules. The Russian eventually signed a revamped 15-year, $100 million contract.

The NHL fined the Devils $3 million and took away two high draft picks over the next four years.

New Jersey hosted Buffalo on Saturday night.

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