Devils Lose 4-2 After Allowing Two Empty-Netters vs. Carolina Hurricanes | 3/9/2024

The New Jersey Devils had an exciting 4-1 win on Thursday that broke a three-game skid when they played against the St. Louis Blues. The Devils hosted the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, March 9th at the Prudential Center and took a disappointing loss following the relieving victory, 4-2. However, it was not for lack of trying, New Jersey made a great effort throughout the game.

Hurricanes lineup against the Devils:

Svechnikov – Aho – Teravainen

Noesen – Drury – Necas

Martinook – Staal – Jarvis

Kotkaniemi – Kuznetsov – Fast

Slavin – Burns

Skjei – Pesce

Orlov – Chatfield

Kochetkov

Devils lineup against the Hurricanes:

Palat – Hischier – Meier

Hughes – Haula – Bratt

Tierney – Lazar – Mercer

MacDermid – Nosek – Holtz

Siegenthaler – Marino

Bahl – Smith

Hughes – Nemec

Daws

Schmid

Scoring the only goal in the first period at 7:32, Martin Necas went for his 20th goal of the season. During the power play, he gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead when he received a pass from Teuvo Teravainen, who was just outside of the right face-off circle, and Necas beat Nico Daws with a one-timer from the point through a screen.

Nico Hischier put New Jersey on the board, tying the game 1-1, late into the middle frame at 4:33. He recorded his 21st of the season when he beat Pyotr Kochetkov with a snap shot just inside the right post at the high slot after a turnover. Jack Hughes assisted this goal by Hischier for his 40th assist of the season.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi put Carolina ahead 2-1 when he shot from a sharp angle, deep in the left-wing corner, with a snap shot early into the third at 17:10. The shot fluttered over Nico Daws’ right shoulder, hitting the far post, and then bounced off Daws’ back and into the net. Later into the final frame, Andrei Svechnikov scored an empty-netter for his 15th to extend the Hurricanes’ lead to 3-1. Pulling the Devils within 3-2 as they had Daws pulled for the extra attacker, Timo Meier scored and extended his goal streak to five games (seven goals) with only 12 seconds remaining. Teuvo Teravainen went for his 20th goal of the season when he struck the empty net for the 4-2 final.

Nico Hischier on the Devils’ 4-2 loss: “I think it was a good game. We were there, competed at heart. That was a hard game… I think it was an easy win for them. Sometimes we have to take the positives out of here. I think we didn’t play a bad game so we move on from here.”

Nico Daws on the loss: “It’s one of those tight-knit games where a mistake is going to be the difference. It sucks to be the one to make it.”

Notes:

– Nico Daws made a total of 22 saves for New Jersey, and Pyotr Kochetkov made 23 saves for Carolina.

– Teuvo Teravainen had a goal and recorded two assists.

– Jack Hughes’ assist on Nico Hischier’s goal made him become the fourth player in Devils/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts history to accomplish multiple 40-assist seasons before the age of 23. Hughes joined Kirk Muller (three times), Scott Gomez (two times), and Wilf Paiement (two times)… He has 11 points in his past seven games (three goals, eight assists).

Hischier has nine points in his past six games (two goals, seven assists).