In their first game after an eventful deadline day, the New Jersey Devils (31-29-4) fell to the Carolina Hurricanes (38-19-6) 4-2 in a game with no room for error. The Devils and Hurricanes played a physical game along the boards but Carolina finished more of their chances, proving the difference.
First Period
Luke Hughes almost got the Devils on the board seconds into the game, wiring the puck off the crossbar. After that early burst, however, Carolina clamped down in their end, keeping the Devils out of the middle of the ice.
Martin Necas drew first blood on the power play at the 12:28 mark, ripping a shot from the blue line past Nico Daws. The Hurricanes continued to apply the pressure after the power play but couldn’t get anything going. They didn’t relent on defense though, limiting the opportunities for New Jersey to shoot.
The Hurricanes stymied the Devils’ feast-or-famine offense, holding them to four shots, a 28.13 Corsi-for percentage (CF%), and a 25.38 expected goal percentage (xG%).
Second Period
Both teams had plenty of scoring chances in the second period but capitalized on few. The Devils got an early power play on an Andrei Svechnikov tripping call but couldn’t get the puck on net before Erik Haula’s interference call cut the man-advantage short. The Devils got another power play chance a few minutes later, with Andrei Svechnikov going off again, this time for roughing. They cycled well when they entered the zone but couldn’t find shooting lanes. The Devils got yet another power play late in the period but still couldn’t get a shot off. They fared better on the kill, nullifying all three Carolina power plays in the second period with solid defensive structure.
Midway through the period, the Hurricanes appeared to score on the power play but the refs immediately waved it off for goaltender interference. Rod Brind’amor challenged the call but the video review team found that Stefon Noesen willfully interfered with Daws. Jack Hughes almost tied the game amid all the chaos, ringing the iron after sending the puck through traffic.
Nico Hischeir finally got the Devils on the board at the 15:27 mark, receiving a clever pass by Jack Hughes in the slot and wristing it home.
At five-on-five, the Devils played competitive hockey with a 55.56 CF% but headed into the locker room disappointed after failing to convert on three power plays.
Third Period
It was back to business as usual in the third period as Carolina kept it clean in their end. Jesperi Kotkhaniemi retook the lead for the Hurricanes at the 2:50 mark, scoring on an unbelievable shot from the goal line that bounced off the post and Nico Daws’ back into the net.
After that unlucky goal, the Devils had no juice. They could barely enter the zone and when they did, they couldn’t apply pressure. They got a couple of power plays but once again couldn’t capitalize.
Interim head coach Travis Green pulled Daws late in the game to spark the offense, but Svechnikov buried an empty-netter to make it 3-1.
Green didn’t wave the white flag, pulling Daws again, this time with success. Timo Meier cut the lead down to one goal at the 19:48 mark, winning a net-front scramble alongside Nico Hischeir. It was too late for a comeback, however. Green kept Daws out and Teuvo Terovainen scored another empty-netter to secure a 4-2 win for Carolina.
Results
The Devils are out of gas. After a season derailed by injuries, bad goaltending, and underperformance, they couldn’t find a way to battle for shooting lanes. With their playoff hopes looking like a pipe dream, New Jersey is slogging through the late stages of this season.
The Devils sit in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division with 64 points. The Hurricanes are in second place in the Metro with 82 points.
Game Notes
No Finishing Ability
A familiar issue plagued the Devils yesterday: an inability to finish their chances. There was no hiding behind a barrage of chances today, New Jersey put just 25 shots on net. They struggled to find the right time and place on the ice to shoot, giving Carolina clearance after clearance.
They were particularly bad on the power play, notching zero shots on their five advantages. The Devils had just five high-danger chances at five-on-five. They had just 1.49 expected goals, good for a 35.95 xG%.
Nico Hischier Shines Alone
Nico Hischier was the lone bright spot for the Devils yesterday, scoring a goal and an assist. Jack Hughes made a smart read on the Hischier goal, faking a shot before finding him in the slot. Once he got the puck in the danger area, he didn’t miss. He also assisted Timo Meier’s late goal in front of the net. Hischier led the team with a Game Score of 1.53.
Up Next
The Devils will head across the Hudson River to take on the Rangers on Monday at 7:00 pm ET.