The Carolina Hurricanes kicked off their Round 1 series against the New Jersey Devils on Easter Sunday (April 20) with a 4-1 victory. Logan Stankoven led the way with two goals, Taylor Hall with two assists, and Frederik Andersen made 23 saves on 24 shots in the win. On Tuesday night (April 22), the Hurricanes were looking to win Game 2 and take the series back to Newark, New Jersey, up 2-0 in the series. However, the Devils were looking to bounce back from the loss and try to salvage a split in Raleigh before heading home for Game 3 on Friday, April 25. As the final horn sounded, the Hurricanes won 3-1 to take a 2-0 series lead.
Game Recap
If there was anything that was certain, it was that the Devils would come out flying in the first period. That was the case as Jesper Bratt scored the opening goal with a rebound shot that beat Andersen. Andersen made the initial save on Erik Haula, but Bratt was in the right place at the right time to make it 1-0. Early on, you could tell the Hurricanes needed to get the temp going after being outshot 7-2 just 12 minutes into the game. The Hurricanes had a couple of power plays, however, nothing came of them as the team kinda shot themselves in the foot with their clears. Also, there were three wide open attempts, but all were whiffed on. They picked up their game as the period went on, however, their slow start saw them down 1-0 after the first 20 minutes.
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If the start of the first was all Devils, then the start of the second was taken over by the Hurricanes. After a Jackson Blake shot, Shayne Gostisbehere was in the right place, crashing the net, and was able to roof the puck over Jacob Markstrom. He tucked it right underneath the crossbar, and his first goal of the playoffs tied the game 1-1. Just a few minutes later, the man who burned the Devils in Round 2 back in 2023 did it again. Jordan Martinook gave the Hurricanes their first lead of the game with a shorthanded marker. His goal made it seven consecutive playoff games with a point against the Devils.
The period wrapped up with the Hurricanes leading 2-1 after 40 minutes. It was a much better period for the home team after their slow start to the game. Things got chippy throughout the period, and it gave the sense that the third period will be even more intense with the one goal lead.
The third period saw the Hurricanes apply tons of pressure on the Devils. They had some long offensive zone shifts to keep the visitors pinned in their own zone. It was a tight back-and-forth with Andersen and Markstrom trading big save for big save. It was clear that neither goalie wanted to give an edge. The Hurricanes were able to ice the game as Seth Jarvis scored his first of the series to make it a 3-1 game.
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Martinook’s two-point game and Andersen’s 25 saves led the way as the series shifts to New Jersey, where the Hurricanes look to put a stranglehold on the series.
Back to New Jersey for Game 3 Friday
While it wasn’t the prettiest of games at the start, the Hurricanes were able to lock it down and get back to their game as it went along. The special teams were rock solid as the penalty kill got another shorthanded marker to help spoil the Devils’ power play. Andersen stood tall all game, which was a huge difference maker for the Hurricanes. Now the focus turns to Game 3 on Friday, where it’ll be pivotal to see if the series will either be 3-0 or 2-1. Expect it to be a hostile crowd on the road, but don’t underestimate the Hurricanes as they are digging deep to win games and now are in full control after two games in Raleigh.
