On Saturday, March 28, the New Jersey Devils headed to the Lenovo Center to take on the Carolina Hurricanes, kicking off a back-to-back on the road. After winning seven of their last 10 contests, the Devils looked to extend their win streak to three straight games.
But in a heartbreaking matchup, the Hurricanes came out on top in the end, handing the Devils a 5-2 loss.
Devils Held Their Ground in the First
The Hurricanes played a fast-paced, high-stakes game in the first period, but the Devils were quick to recover and match their speed. Despite giving up a few chances and turnovers early on, the Devils stood their ground during the opening 20 minutes.Â
Their patience was finally rewarded when the Devils found their way onto the scoreboard first, courtesy of Timo Meier’s 22nd goal of the season. Meier’s wrist shot sailed into the net on a blind pass from Dawson Mercer, marking the third straight game where the Devils have scored the opening goal.
But Jacob Markstrom was the MVP at the start of the game, stopping all eight shots in the first period to keep the game scoreless. By setting the tone early on in the first period, the Devils made it clear that they meant business in this Metropolitan Division showdown.
Careless Penalty Cost the Lead
Halfway through the second period, the Devils were tested after Lenni Hameenaho was called for tripping. Unfortunately, they allowed a goal with just 18 seconds remaining on the kill, tying the score at 1-1. From there, the Hurricanes were able to swing the momentum back in their favor, blowing the game wide open with three unanswered goals in quick succession.Â
Shortly after Nikolaj Ehlers’ power-play goal, Jackson Blake made it a 2-1 game, with the help of Hall and Shayne Gostisbehere. Less than two minutes later, the Hurricanes’ captain gave the home team a two-goal lead.
To make matters worse, the Hurricanes stifled the Devils to just five shots on goal both in the second and third period, outshooting them 34-19 by the end of the game. Sadly, one failed penalty kill gave their opponent a major advantage. As a result, the Hurricanes exploited the Devils’ shaky confidence to cement their lead, scoring another two goals in the third.
Ending the Road Trip On a Sour Note
With this loss, the Devils wrap up their five-game road trip with a 3-2-0 record. The Hurricanes might have swept all four games this season, but it was not due to a lack of effort from the Devils.Â
New Jersey managed countless scoring opportunities, but their best chances came from Nico Hischier and Meier. Together, the pair had a myriad of shots, rebounds, and redirects, but could not get another goal past Bussi.
Related: Devils’ Record With a 3-2-1 Points System
However, there were still a few bright spots amid a disheartening loss. Mercer played in his 400th NHL game, while also keeping his Iron Man streak intact. Likewise, Evgenii Dadonov earned his first point as a Devil, with a goal late in the third period to bring the final score to 5-2.Â
The Devils will close out their back-to-back tonight, facing the Chicago Blackhawks at Prudential Center. Hopefully, they’ll be able to bounce back and return to their winning ways.
