The Carolina Hurricanes have a 2-0 first-round series lead after defeating the New Jersey Devils 3-1 on Tuesday night (April 22). They will look to take a stranglehold on the series in Game 3 on Friday, April 25. However, before we get to Friday’s game, head coach Rod Brind’Amour and four players met with the media postgame to provide their thoughts on the Hurricanes’ win. What did they say to The Hockey Writers following the victory?
Rod Brind’Amour
The head coach met with the media for over 10 and a half minutes, with questions spanning from the penalty kill to Frederik Andersen to Jordan Martinook. When asked by THW about Martinook’s impact on the game on and off the scoresheet, Brind’Amour stated, “I can’t think of enough good things to say about that game in particular, which might have been his most impactful game as a Hurricane. He’s had a bunch, especially in big moments. Obviously the goal was huge, but if you watched, there were tons of blocked shots, the play even at the end of the game. A special play there to get the empty netter. He was all over this game for us.”
Brind’Amour always preaches that if guys are doing their job to help the team win in their roles, that is what matters even if they aren’t on the scoresheet. However, when those guys, such as Martinook, get rewarded for their efforts, it means more. Martinook had one registered blocked shot, but he easily had two or three in the game. Furthermore, he had five shots on goal. His shorthanded goal ended up being the game-winning tally and the one the Hurricanes needed the most after falling behind 1-0 in the first period. The goal marked his seventh-consecutive playoff game against the Devils with a point. He ended the game with a two-point performance after getting the assist on Seth Jarvis’ empty net goal to ice the game 3-1.
The two points now give him 13 against the Devils in seven playoff games, spanning back to Round 2 of 2023. There is something about facing the Devils that takes his game to the next level, and the Hurricanes definitely appreciate his efforts on and off the scoresheet.
Shayne Gostisbehere
The first player to meet with the media after the game was defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who scored his first goal of the playoffs to tie the game 1-1 in the second period. His game-tying goal was otherworldly as he was able to get his own rebound and roof it right under the bar. When asked by THW about how the team got better as the game went along following the slow start, he stated, “You take your licks. Obviously we didn’t our best in the first period and I think for us, when we play a simplified game, everyone knows and everyone’s on the same page, it shows. That’s where our systems works.”
Related: Hurricanes Defeat Devils 3-1 to Take 2-0 Series Lead
While they did get behind 1-0 after one period, the team locked it down and kept the Devils off the board for the rest of the game. The Hurricanes were able to block 14 shots to help give Andersen some help, especially late in the third period, where the Devils were looking to tie the game. However, they were able to stand tall and find a way to score the empty-net goal to secure the win. That is the type of defensive game assistant coach Tim Gleason has to be happy with, as his defenseman locked it in and shut down the Devils to prevent them from evening up the score. Despite the slow start, the team showed their resilience in getting back to what makes their system work and digging deep to secure the win.
Jaccob Slavin
Jaccob Slavin was asked about the team getting better for the 60 minutes. He stated, “You’re going to have lapses in the game, but it’s all about how you respond. It speaks to our identity here in the locker room. Playing a competitive game and trying to do it for 60 minutes. You know guys are going to work hard, but just had to bear down and got the job done. A couple huge plays.”
It is fair to say that no matter how the game goes, the Hurricanes are a team that won’t fold and quit. With a coach like Brind’Amour, there is no taking shifts off and not playing your game. What makes teams great is when, even if down, they find a way to scratch back into games and get a win. One thing that makes the Hurricanes stand out is their relentless forecheck and backcheck to smother teams and grind them down. Whether they are ahead or behind, they will find a way to get the job done as a group that relies on each other. This makes sense considering how close-knit of a group the locker room is for Carolina.
Jordan Martinook
Martinook and Andersen met with the media at the podium after the locker room press scrums to get their thoughts after the win. As the two most impactful Hurricanes, it made sense for them to appear together to both the media as a whole. THW asked Martinook about how the team was able to build up their game after a slow start, he stated, “The first seven minutes, it was not how we needed to be. But then after that, I felt like we started building a game. You have to give it to Freddie. He made some unbelievable saves, especially in the third period where they were pushing. There were three I can think of just off of the top of my head where you just have to tip your cap to him because he was unbelievable tonight. If you don’t have those saves then obviously it’s a different game. I felt like we tightened up, but obviously whenever we had a lull or lapse, he was there to shut the door.”
It goes to show why he is a leader of this team. He talked right away about how impactful Andersen was in the game. Even when the team started slow and had some lapses here and there, he was able to shut the door on the Devils. Martinook gives props to guys who really deserve it, and being able to look at the whole team and compliment them, to then praise his netminder, goes a long way. That is why he is an alternate captain and why he is in Raleigh for the next two seasons after this current one, after signing a three-year deal this past offseason. He has built himself up to be a leader of this team and a fan favorite. The way he impacts the team on and off the ice, along with being a community guy, makes him well-loved by the “Caniacs.” You can tell when he scores that it means something to fans because it feels like the roof will blow off the arena, even moreso when it’s a shorthanded game-winning goal.
Frederik Andersen
THW asked the Danish netminder about playing behind the Hurricanes’ team defense and how it makes his job easier. “It’s just fun to play,” he stated. “This team is just inspiring. That’s the biggest description I can use. You really see how hard everyone plays for each other, and it comes up especially in moments like the penalty kill. Everyone is out there just to get through the next play, whether it’s blocking a shot or going down the ice and then scoring. It’s really fun just to help each other out. Everyone’s ready to step up.”
Related: Hurricanes Morning Thoughts: Brind’Amour, Slavin, & Orlov Meet with Media
It speaks to how the Hurricanes’ team defense works well for them season after season. The way everyone pulls in the same direction indicates why the team has made it to the playoffs for seven-consecutive seasons in the Brind’Amour Era. Furthermore, how Gleason teaches the defenseman, and the whole team, to play a two-way game under Brind’amour’s system works. The way they can stay structured in all three zones and play man-to-man defense in their own zone makes it tough for teams to win games. That is why you see low show counts against and a high volume of shots for. The smothering, relentless forecheck and backcheck makes the system work, makes the goalie’s job less taxing, and keeps them fresher as the season goes along in most instances. It’s the main reason Andersen has only let in two goals in two games and has a save percentage above .950 in each of the Hurricanes’ two wins.
Friday’s Game 3 will be Massive for the Hurricanes
The Hurricanes will look to take a stranglehold on the series on Friday in New Jersey following their Tuesday win. If they are victorious, they will be up 3-0 and have the Devils’ backs against the wall. It won’t be an easy game, but if they get to a better start like in Game 1 and finish better like they did in Game 2, there is a good chance they take the first game back in Newark to put all the pressure on the Devils. It should be an interesting game and interesting to see how the series moves on after it.
