The Devils just won’t die. After going down 2-0 in a second consecutive series, the New Jersey Devils embarrassed the Carolina Hurricanes 8-4 in a blowout at the Prudential Center. Carolina had slapped the Devils around for the first two games, but New Jersey bounced back big time.
Summary
First Period
From the opening puck drop, the Devils brought a different tempo than they had in the first two games. They got early and often, buzzing in the Hurricanes’ zone for entire shifts.
Timo Meier drew first blood at 5:58, scoring on a slick behind-the-net pass from Jack Hughes. The Devils didn’t give up the momentum, continuing to rush into the offensive zone with ease.
They struck again at 10:55 with a goal from none other than Jack Hughes. He made a slick play going into the offensive zone, dishing it to Brenden Smith, who dished it right back to him for the easy one-timer.
Next, the Hurricanes went on the power play, but that didn’t matter to Michael McLeod, who went coast-to-coast from the faceoff, toasting a backchecking Seth Jarvis, and buried the backhander past Frederik Andersen at 12:31.
The Devils had a great first period, dispelling any notion that they would roll over for the Hurricanes after two embarrassing losses.
Second Period
Nico Hischier started the second period with a bang, scoring his first goal of the playoffs at 0:53 off a diving pass from Jesper Bratt. Up 4-0 early in the second period, it seemed like the Devils would cruise to the finish line, but the Hurricanes had other ideas.
They flipped the momentum and pinned New Jersey in their zone for multiple shifts. It culminated in a goal from Sebastian Aho at 2:00 to cut the Devils’ lead to 4-1.
New Jersey woke back up after this, resulting in a goal from Damon Severson at 5:33. after he fought through multiple Hurricanes’ defenders. Both Hughes brothers got a point on this goal, and Luke Hughes notched his first career playoff point. Andersen was pulled for Pytor Kochetkov after this goal.
Later, Jordan Martinook went on a breakaway with Dougie Hamilton trailing close behind. Hamilton hooked Martinook, giving him a penalty shot. Martinook capitalized, scoring Carolina’s second goal at 12:18.
The Devils and Hurricanes both scored twice in this period, but with the score at 5-2, it felt like New Jersey was running away with the game.
Third Period
Despite all the scoring over the first two periods, the third period was probably the craziest of the game. Miles Wood blew the game open with the Devils’ sixth goal at 3:08, making a nice move on a Hurricanes’ defender before going on the breakaway and scoring on Kochetkov.
Minutes later at 5:17, Jack Hughes scored his second goal of the game, moving in from the corner and flicking the puck past the goalie. Carolina drew a penalty, but Jordan Staal scored a short-handed goal to cut the Devils’ lead to 7-3. Seth Jarvis joined the party at 8:11 with another shorty.
Only down by three, Carolina had a chance to try and mount a comeback, but Ondrej Palat put those fears to rest with a goal at 10:47. Carolina had no response, and the Devils prevailed 8-4.
Results
Yesterday was a crazy game, but most importantly, it was a statement win for a New Jersey team desperate to stay in the series. Now, they’re in a similar position as they were against the Rangers, right back in the series after Game 3.
Game Notes
- The Hughes brothers played great. Jack Hughes scored twice and Luke Hughes notched his first career playoff point. It was also Luke’s playoff debut.
- Vitek Vanecek looked shaky in the crease. He let in three short-hand goals and posted a negative goals saved above expected. Head coach Lindy Ruff will have a decision to make in net going into Game 4.
- Nico Hischier and Timo Meier got the monkeys off their backs, scoring their first goals of the playoffs.
Up Next
The Devils will take on the Hurricanes in Game 4 tomorrow at 7:00 pm EDT.