The New Jersey Devils (26-12-3) scored four unanswered goals to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes (25-9-7) 5-3 in Raleigh in a huge Metropolitan Division tilt on Tuesday night. New Jersey pulled within two points of Carolina for the division lead with the win. This was the first time NJ defeated Carolina in three contests this season.
The Devils are now 4-1-1 in their past six games, including consecutive multiple goal comeback wins for the first time since 2001.
Game Summary
First Period
Early on, both teams played well defensively, limiting chances. Miles Wood was denied on an early two-on-one, but the Devils’ best chance of the period came midway through the frame. On the powerplay, a loose puck fell to the scorching-hot Jack Hughes, but the 21-year-old fired a backhander off the bottom of the post.
Minutes later, New Jersey went back to the man-advantage, but it was Carolina that took advantage. Off a face-off in the Devils’ end, Martin Necas set up Jesperi Kotkaniemi who gave the ‘Canes a 1-0 lead with seven minutes left in the first period.
From there, Carolina took control of the game and piled on the pressure. However, against the run of the play, Jonas Siegenthaler skated up the wall and fired a sharp angle shot that just squeaked past Pytor Kochetkov at his near post. The play was initially called no goal, but was overturned on replay. Siegenthaler’s second of the year tied the game at one with just under three minutes left in the first.
That scoreline remained at the end of the first 20 minutes. Shots were 14-7 in favor of Carolina. The Hurricanes also owned a 66.67 Corsi-for percentage (CF%) and a 70.46 expected goals-for percentage (xGF%) at five-on-five in the period.
Second Period
The Hurricanes picked up right where they left off out of the break, continuing to control the game. Eventually, that pressure paid off when Max Pacioretty broke the deadlock nine minutes into the period. The former Canadien and Golden Knight threw a puck across the crease that banked in off the upper body of Yegor Sharangovich.
The Devils had a chance to respond with another power play, but unfortunately, it led to some deja vu. Late in the power play, Sebastian Aho finished off a two-on-one, give-and-go with Teuvo Teravainen to make it 3-1 ‘Canes with 2:30 left in the middle period. It was the second shorthanded goal of the night for Carolina and the fourth in three games against the Devils this season.
However, the Devils did not go to intermission quietly. In the final minute, Dawson Mercer cut to the front of the net from the corner, stashing the puck five-hole on Kochetkov to cut the deficit to one. Just a mere 18 seconds later, Jesper Boqvist did exactly the same. Out of nowhere, the Devils went to the second intermission tied at two.
Shots in the second period were 10-8 in favor of the Hurricanes. Carolina controlled the play once again with a 77.42 CF% and a 62.10 xGF% at five-on-five.
Third Period
New Jersey took that momentum into the third period, although both teams played stifling defense to start the frame. However, it was the Devils who broke the tie. Dawson Mercer split the ‘Canes defense at the blue line, shielded the puck, and tucked a forehand around Kochetkov. The highlight-reel goal gave the Devils its first lead of the night with 11 minutes to play.
Carolina made a late surge, but Vitek Vanecek and the Devils’ defense held strong. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour pulled Pyotr Kochetkov with two minutes to play, but in the final minute, Nico Hischier was hooked while heading toward the empty net. He was awarded a goal, his 19th of the year, securing a 5-3 victory for the Devils.
In the third, shots were 7-4 New Jersey with the Devils having a 50.00 CF% and a 80.42 xGF% at five-on-five.
Wrap Up
Dawson Mercer stole the headlines in this one, scoring twice and picking up a primary assist on Boqvist’s game-tying goal. Boqvist, Hischier, and Michael McLeod also had two-point nights. In net, Vitek Vanecek played well to earn the win for NJ, stopping 25 of 28 shots and saving 1.04 goals above expected.
For Carolina, Sebastian Aho was the only player with multiple points. Pyotr Kochetkov took the loss, stopping 18 of 22 shots and allowing 0.57 goals above expected.
For the game, shots were 28-22 Carolina. The ‘Canes posted a 65.56 CF% and a 57.44 xGF% at five-on-five. Though, the Devils actually held the all-strengths expected goals share.
Game Notes
Opportunistic Dawson Mercer
While Dawson Mercer stole the show with a three-point night, he struggled to control the play otherwise. At five-on-five, Mercer was actually last among Devils’ skaters with a 21.21 CF%. His 38.98 xGF% ranked 11th on the team. Moreover, with Mercer on the ice, NJ was out-chanced 16-6, with high-danger chances being 7-5 in Carolina’s favor.
Yet, Mercer was still able to record three points and was not on the ice for a goal against. That was a theme across the board for the Devils on Tuesday. Carolina certainly controlled the play with a 65.56 CF% at five-on-five. The Devils though, looked for more high-danger looks, with high-danger chances being just 9-8 in favor of the ‘Canes at five-on-five. The Devils also made the most of their chances, scoring three of their goals from right in front of the crease.
As Devils’ fans have seen in recent weeks, controlling play and expected goals does not automatically translate to wins, and on Tuesday, the Devils were able to gut out a huge win with timely, opportunistic play, and no one was more emblematic of that than Dawson Mercer.
Power Play Struggles
The glaring problem with Tuesday’s performance was the lack of success on the man-advantage. Not only did the Devils go 0-for-4 on the power play, but the Hurricanes scored twice shorthanded. On the year, Carolina has scored four shorthanded goals in three games vs. New Jersey.
However, despite the breakdowns that led to the shorthanded goals against, the Devils’ power play was not a complete wash. In 6:29 of power play time, NJ created 1.72 expected goals for. The 0.58 expected goals against is not nearly good enough, but the Devils are continuing to look dangerous offensively after scoring at least one power play goal in each of the last three games played.
Mixed Depth Results
On one hand, it was a phenomenal night for the Devils’ depth with Dawson Mercer, Jesper Boqvist, and Jonas Siegenthaler combining to score four goals. Those contributions were crucial to the victory. However, other depth players had a tough night for New Jersey.
Notably, Fabian Zetterlund and Yegor Sharangovich struggled to find any momentum. Zetterlund had a brutal 13.76 xGF% at five-on-five, the worst mark on the team. Sharangovich was second-worst with a 16.46 xGF%. The starting fourth line of Zetterlund, Boqvist, and Sharangovich actually registered a 0 CF% and xGF% in a small, three-minute sample. Even Boqvist’s goal came after head coach Lindy Ruff shook up the lines and he was playing with Dawson Mercer.
It will be interesting to see how Ruff handles the fourth line moving forward. Nathan Bastian was at the morning skate Tuesday, but has no concrete timetable for a return. Zetterlund drew back into the lineup on Tuesday in favor of Alexander Holtz after being a healthy scratch for two games. Nolan Foote was called up from Utica before Tuesday’s win, so if Bastian isn’t ready for Friday, Foote could make his season debut.
What’s Next
The Devils head west for four straight games against Pacific Division opponents. The Devils take on the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET. The game will be an ESPN+/Hulu exclusive.
Note: All statistics via Natural Stat Trick.