Dominant Game 1 Effort Spurs Hurricanes to 4-Goal Victory Over Devils

By AIDAN JENSEN

[email protected]

The Carolina Hurricanes kicked off their second-round series against the New Jersey Devils with a dominating, 5-1 home victory, looking like the stronger team throughout.

Carolina (1-0) went up against a red-hot goalie in Akira Schmid, who allowed just seven goals in the Devils’ (0-1) opening-round series against the New York Rangers.

The Canes scored their third goal just under two minutes into the second period, forcing New Jersey to pull Schmid for Vitek Vanacek. Carolina scored two more – once on Brady Skjei’s one-timer in the final period, then its fifth and final goal on a Jesper Fast empty-netter.

This effort was particularly impressive for the Canes, considering they scored just four times in Games 6 and 7 of their first-round series victory over the New York Islanders.

Defensemen continued to shine on the scoresheet, with Skjei and Brett Pesce each netting their first 2023 postseason goals. Wingers Fast and Seth Jarvis both tallied their third scores of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, while Jesperi Kotkaniemi added his first. Captain Jordan Staal and alternate captain Sebastian Aho continued dishing out assists – Staal recorded two, while Aho added on a single one. Canes goalie Frederik Andersen enjoyed a stellar night in net, saving 16 of 17 shots.

Yet the area Carolina shined in most, despite their five goals, was defensively.

The Canes’ defense held New Jersey to just one shot on goal in the opening period. Yes – you read that correctly – one shot. They suffocated Devils star Jack Hughes, who enjoyed three goals in round one, to just two total shots. New Jersey did not score until the second period, when Nathan Bastian took advantage of a rare Carolina turnover and deked out Andersen.

The Canes will search for another 2-0 series lead on Friday night, when they welcome the Devils back to PNC Arena for an 8 p.m. start time. That game can be watched on TNT.

Expect another rowdy crowd in Raleighwood and another strong performance from Carolina.