The Carolina Hurricanes seemed to be in preparation for the upcoming 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, which are set to begin the third week of April, dominating their opponent Saturday night.
What looked like a slow start turned into a goal frenzy for the Hurricanes (46-20-6), who scored five-straight goals when hosting the New Jersey Devils (37-33-2) in Lenovo Center.
Coming off an away loss against the Canadiens, the Canes returned home to take on the Devils — a regular NHL playoffs opponent. This year marks the eighth-consecutive year that the Canes will make a playoff appearance. However, the Devils have not yet secured their spot, with their chances of making the Wild Card slim to none.
“You can feel playoff hockey is around the corner,” goaltender Brandon Bussi said. “We have, what, 10 more games? We got to keep our foot on the gas here … continue to play our style and keep trying to build for playoffs.”
The first half of the opening period was a constant flow up and down the ice, with the two teams matching offensive attacks time and time again as the Canes took eight shots on goal and the Devils close behind with six.
But it was New Jersey that drew first blood. With three minutes remaining in the first period, right wing Timo Meier delivered the first goal for the Devils with a wrist shot past Bussi.
As the second period progressed, it was clear that the script flipped for Carolina. After a goalless first period, the Canes put up three goals in the latter half of the middle 20 minutes.
“[We were] not so happy with our first period,” left wing Nikolaj Ehlers said. “After that, we came back in the second and finished it off the right way in the third.”
Ehlers tied the game with a power-play goal, assisted by defenseman Alexander Nikishin and left wing Taylor Hall, as he shot the puck past the cluster of black and white jerseys.
Two minutes later, right wing Jackson Blake gave Carolina the lead with a sneaky shot past Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler and goaltender Jacob Markstrom, assisted by Hall and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.
Soon after, center Jordan Staal made a crucial score to extend the lead for the Canes as left wing Jordan Martinook and Ehlers navigated through the crowd after a scuffle for the puck near the right corner of the rink.
During the final period, the Canes kept their foot on the gas. After five minutes, Gostisbehere scored unassisted to increase the lead to three goals.
Shortly after, center Seth Jarvis made a shorthanded, empty-net goal to all but bury the Devils’ chances of a comeback. Defenseman Sean Walker launched the puck down the ice to set the motion for Jarvis to bring the score to 5-1.
“You’re going to see different scenarios all the time, and it’s about being creative when you get that puck to the net and create chaos, get the rebound,” Ehlers said.
Devils left wing Evgenii Dadanov put one more goal on the scoreboard, but it was too little, too late as the Canes’ lead was insurmountable.
The victory gave the Hurricanes their fourth win over New Jersey this season, sweeping the season series 4-0.
Carolina is next set to head up to Columbus on Tuesday, March 31. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m.
