Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored twice in a span of about 2 1/2 minutes during Carolina’s four-goal second period, Frederik Andersen stopped 28 shots and the Hurricanes beat the New Jersey Devils 6-1 on Friday to take a 2-game lead. 0 in their second-round playoff series.
Jordan Staal and Martin Necas also scored in that stunning second, which turned a scoreless game between the top two regular-season teams still alive in the playoffs into a huge Hurricanes victory backed by another rowdy home crowd.
It also marked the second straight game the Hurricanes had chased down Devils goalie Akira Schmid. He lasted just a few minutes in the second period of a 5-1 Game 1 loss, then took a seat after the second with his team trailing 4-0.
Jordan Martinook and Stefan Noesen added clutch goals in the third period to cap another dominant night for Carolina.
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Jesperi Kotkaniemi #82 of the Carolina Hurricanes reacts after scoring his second goal of the second period against the New Jersey Devils in game two of the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 5, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Miles Wood scored for the Devils early in the third, but Andersen was strong in his third straight postseason start for Carolina, dating back to a Round 1 win against the New York Islanders.
The Devils return home to host Game 3 on Sunday, facing an 0-2 hole for the second straight best-of-seven series. They lost the first two games at home 5-1 in the first round against the New York Rangers before recovering to advance with the decisive game on Monday the 7th.
This time, they have been outscored 11-2 in two games.
Kotkaniemi’s first goal came when he took a solo pass down the right side, then skated to the point before firing a shot that passed under Schmid’s right arm and grazed his ribs before finding the net at the 1:35 mark. .
Moments later, Martinook, whose activity had him in the mix all night, skated in to entangle two Devils players in a possession chase near the backboards. That helped loosen the puck so that it slid to Kotkaniemi for the serve near the post at 3:58.
Hurricanes kept up the pressure. Jack Drury popped the puck at the blue line for Staal, with the Hurricanes captain extending his 6-foot-4 frame to corral him before going with the spike backhand forehand and leading 3-0.
And finally, Martin Necas nailed one from the slot after Jaccob Slavin caught the right post on a run, pushing the margin to 4-0 and only adding to the already roaring noise at PNC Arena shortly before intermission.
The Hurricanes dominated the opening period of Game 1, smothering the Devils to take the open ice from them while scoring more goals (two) than New Jersey shots (one).
Jesperi Kotkaniemi #82 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with teammates after a goal during the second period against the New Jersey Devils in game two of the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs at PNC Arena on January 5, May 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images)
PETR KLIMA, OILERS’ STANLEY CUP HERO, DEAD AT 58
The Devils knew they couldn’t repeat that effort and they said so Thursday, pointing out that they needed to set pucks into the net and use their speed to force Carolina to expend energy defending at her own end instead of rolling with her aggressive forecheck.
New Jersey carried the game for the first 10 minutes or more. But by the end of this one, Carolina was celebrating a blowout with Martinook’s runaway touchdown against reliever Vitek Vanecek, followed closely by Noesen’s tackle on a perfect 2-on-1 broadcast from Sebastian Aho.
MEIER BACK
Trade acquisition Timo Meier returned for the Devils after missing Game 1. He was left with a cut nose and bruises under his right eye for this one, four days after taking a crushing blow from New York Rangers forward Jacob Trouba, in a Game 7 victory. to close out the first round.
Meier saw 16:49 of ice time in this one and finished with five shots.
Martin Necas #88 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with teammates after a goal during the second period against the New Jersey Devils in game two of the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs at PNC Arena on January 5 May 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Cato Cataldo/NHLI via Getty Images)
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SIRENS SIRENS
Former Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward, winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy in the team’s run to the 2006 Stanley Cup, sounded the pregame storm warning siren for the Hurricanes to take the ice.
Charlotte Hornets guard Bryce McGowens and Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu sounded the siren for the ensuing intermissions.