The Carolina Hurricanes extended their point streak to ten games (7-0-3) with a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. The Canes’ point streak is their longest since the 2008-09 season.
As is expected with two defensive-minded teams, the score remained scoreless through the first period. New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider was forced to make some tough saves, most notably from the stick of Noah Hanifin. Eddie Lack also remained sharp including a solid save from a tough angle with around a minute to go in the period. The Hurricanes held the advantage in both shot attempts and shots at the end of the first.
The Hurricanes began the second period with intense pressure in the Devils defensive zone and were rewarded as a result. Sebastian Aho lit the lamp just 2:47 into the period after Elias Lindholm fed Aho with a beautiful backhand pass from behind the net. Lindholm’s assist extended his point streak to ten games. The Devils struck back with only 2:57 to go in the period after Travis Zajac shot the puck five hole on Eddie Lack after a 2-on-1 breakaway. Taylor Hall set up Zajac on the goal.
The third period was a fast paced affair. Early in the period, Eddie Lack made a game breaking save on Devils forward Blake Pietila after Noah Hanifin lost a foot race. Shortly thereafter, Jeff Skinner sprung himself for a breakaway after a poke check along the sideboards and beat Schneider all alone to put the Hurricanes up 2-1 midway through the period. Skinner’s goal was his 30th of the season and the third time in his career in which he reached 30 goals.
After good saves on either end, Aho scored again from a tough angle to extended the lead to two. Lack and the Hurricanes defense remained strong to secure the victory. Lack made 26 saves in what was one of his best performances of his season. The Canes remain five points out of the final playoff spot, with two games in hand on the Boston Bruins, whose win over the New York Islanders tonight saw them jump back up above the line.
This was the final meeting of the season between the two teams. The Hurricanes will return home to PNC Arena for a four game homestand. Carolina will begin the homestand on Monday when they take on the Detroit Red Wings at 7 pm.
Rank the Performances
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