The New Jersey Devils dropped Game 2 to the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 on Tuesday. The Devils now trail the best-of-seven series 2-0. Despite missing Jack Hughes, Jonas Siegenthaler, Luke Hughes, and Brendan Dillon, New Jersey went punch-for-punch with the Hurricanes, but could not find a tying goal late.
Game Summary
First Period
Unlike in Game 1, New Jersey dominated the opening minutes. The Devils got seven of the game’s first eight shots on net. Jacob Markstrom did have to make a big save on Eric Robinson on that one Carolina shot, though.
New Jersey made that early dominance count on the scoreboard as well. After a nice keep in by a sprawling Dawson Mercer, Erik Haula put a puck into Frederik Andersen’s pads where Jesper Bratt buried the rebound from in tight. Bratt’s second career playoff goal gave the Devils a deserved 1-0 lead 3:51 in.
Carolina found their footing after the goal, though, starting with a power play chance nine minutes in. However, the Devils’ penalty kill was much more effective than it was in Game 1, barely surrendering any zone time during a clinical kill.
The Hurricanes got a second crack on the power play two minutes later after Paul Cotter was called for tripping. Carolina had a bit more zone time on this man advantage, but the Devils again killed it off, allowing just one shot on net.
The Hurricanes stayed on the front foot in the dying minutes of the frame, but the Devils got to the locker room still leading 1-0.
In the first, shots were 9-6 in favor of New Jersey. The Devils registered a 59.38 Corsi-for percentage (CF%) and a 60.42 expected goals-for percentage (xGF%) at five-on-five.
Second Period
For as great as New Jersey started the first period, Carolina was just as dominant early in the second.
The Hurricanes found an equalizer three minutes in when Shayne Gostisbehere found his own rebound and beat Markstrom to tie it at one.
Carolina nearly doubled up 20 seconds later when a trickling puck got behind Markstrom, but it was cleared off the goal line by Brett Pesce and Dougie Hamilton.
New Jersey had a chance to get the lead back on the power play just a couple of minutes later, but it was Carolina who struck. Jordan Martinook led a two-on-one shorthanded rush right off the initial faceoff and he made no mistake, beating Markstrom high glove off the inside of the post. With 14:06 to play in the middle frame, Carolina had its first lead of the night.
New Jersey nearly tied it a few minutes later after a Timo Meier sharp-angled shot snuck through Andersen, but Brett Burns swept it away just in front of an on-rushing Ondrej Palat.
The Devils had a second chance on the power play after Jackson Blake high-sticked Jesper Bratt. However, they created nothing of note, and Carolina killed off another penalty.
With three minutes left in the frame, Brett Pesce cleared another loose puck off the goal line before sprawling to block the rebound away. Then, down the other end, Frederik Andersen made a pair of saves to stuff Justin Dowling and Paul Cotter. Despite the chaos, the game remained 2-1 Carolina.
In the second, Carolina outshot New Jersey 12-9. The Devils managed a 41.86 CF% and a 37.59 xGF% at five-on-five.
Third Period
Early in the third, Carolina nearly made it 3-1 when William Carrier rang one off the post.
The Devils settled into the period, though, and went to their third power play with 14 minutes to play after Jordan Staal tripped Hischier.
New Jersey had nearly a full two minutes of zone time and forced Andersen into five tremendous saves. However, they could not beat Andersen and the Hurricanes remained in front.
A minute after Carolina killed what was easily New Jersey’s best power play of the series, the Hurricanes got another power play of their own after Simon Nemec tripped Jackson Blake.
Carolina held the zone well, but the Devils, especially Brett Pesce, did a great job getting into shooting lanes and blocking shots. New Jersey completed the kill, but had just eight minutes left to find a tying goal.
Simon Nemec set up Nathan Bastian for an open one-timer in the slot, but again, Andersen came across to make the save. Then, down the other end, Markstrom made a terrific save on Seth Jarvis in tight.
With 1:25 to go, head coach Sheldon Keefe pulled Markstrom for the extra attacker. Timo Meier had a golden opportunity with an open net off a rebound, but he fanned on the bouncing puck. Then, with 36 seconds to play, Seth Jarvis hit the empty net to seal the win.
In the third and final frame, shots were 10-8 in favor of Carolina. At five-on-five, the Devils put up a 33.33 CF% and a 25.76 xGF%.
Wrap-Up
In total, shots were 28-26 Carolina. New Jersey finished with a 45.10 CF% and a 41.47 xGF% at five-on-five.
Jacob Markstrom was even better than in Game 1, despite the loss. Markstrom stopped 25 of 27 shots faced and turned aside 2.05 goals saved above expected.
Unfortunately for the Devils, they had trouble finishing at the other end. Frederik Andersen made 25 saves and stopped 3.14 goals above expected.
Game Notes
Fourth Line Struggles
It was a tough night for both Justin Dowling and Nathan Bastian at five-on-five. The fourth liners finished with the lowest xGF% figures on the team at five-on-five. Dowling finished with a 27.25 xGF% while Bastian posted a 27.60 xGF%.
On top of that, Carolina was plus-seven in high-danger chances with Bastian and Dowling on the ice.
Luckily for New Jersey, Carolina did not score with Bastian or Dowling on the ice, but they certainly controlled the play.
Hung in There at Even Strength
Although the Devils had slightly worse numbers at five-on-five than in Game 1, they felt much more competitive in Game 2.
In Game 1, New Jersey posted a 45.54 xGF%, but posted a 75.76 xGF% in the third after being dominated through the first two periods. However, in Game 2, New Jersey dominated the first period and was basically even through two before Carolina extended its advantage in the third. The Devils were also even on the scoreboard at five-on-five in Game 2 after being outscored 2-0 in Game 1.
No individual Devil stood out as an outlier in Game 2, but Nico Hischier led the way with a 59.24 xGF%. Brian Dumoulin led the defensemen with a 57.28 xGF%. Most of the New Jersey skaters ended up in the 40-50% range.
Against as dominant a five-on-five team as Carolina is, this was a solid enough effort at five-on-five. If New Jersey can replicate this effort while getting better matchups with last change on home ice, they certainly have a chance to get back into the series on home ice.
Poor Special Teams
New Jersey will have no chance of making this a competitive series without drastic improvements on special teams.
The New Jersey penalty kill was a perfect 3-for-3 after allowing a goal in Game 1, but the Devils’ power play needs to be better.
Carolina tallied the game-winning goal while shorthanded, and through the first five periods of this series, shot attempts were 4-2 in favor of the Hurricanes while the Devils had the man advantage.
The Devils did put together an excellent power play in the third period, but still could not score. Regardless, maybe that is something to build off of heading back to New Jersey. Without an improved threat on the power play, this will be a short series.
What’s Next
The series shifts to New Jersey for the first time on Friday. Puck drop for Game 3 is set for 8:00 pm ET on TBS and MSGSN.
Note: All statistics via Natural Stat Trick.