The New Jersey Devils made a statement in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes, delivering an emphatic 8-4 win on home ice. The victory gave the Devils a 2-1 series lead and provided a much-needed boost for a team that had struggled in the first two games of the series.
The Devils came out firing on all cylinders in the first period, scoring four goals in a span of just over six minutes. Rookie forward Yegor Sharangovich opened the scoring just 1:13 into the game with a wrist shot that beat Hurricanes goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic. The Devils continued to apply pressure, and forwards Janne Kuokkanen, Jesper Bratt, and Pavel Zacha all scored within a five-minute span to give the Devils a 4-0 lead.
The Hurricanes responded with a goal from forward Andrei Svechnikov late in the period, but the Devils were not deterred. They continued to push the pace in the second period, with Sharangovich scoring his second goal of the game to extend the lead to 5-1.
The Hurricanes mounted a comeback in the third period, with goals from Svechnikov and forwards Vincent Trocheck and Martin Necas. But the Devils responded with three goals of their own, including an empty-net goal from Zacha to complete his hat trick and seal the win.
The Devils’ offense was firing on all cylinders, with eight different players recording at least one point in the game. Zacha led the way with three goals and an assist, while Sharangovich and Kuokkanen each had a goal and two assists.
Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood was solid in net for the Devils, making 32 saves on 36 shots. He was particularly strong in the second period, making several key saves to keep the Hurricanes at bay.
The win was a much-needed boost for the Devils, who had struggled in the first two games of the series. They had been outscored 7-3 in those games and had struggled to generate offense. But in Game 3, they were firing on all cylinders, with their top players stepping up when it mattered most.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, will need to regroup before Game 4. They had been one of the hottest teams in the league heading into the playoffs, but have struggled to find their footing against the Devils. They will need to tighten up defensively and find a way to generate more offense if they hope to even the series.
For the Devils, the win was a reminder that they are a dangerous team when they are firing on all cylinders. They have a talented roster and a goaltender who is capable of stealing games. If they can continue to play at the level they did in Game 3, they could be a tough out for any team in the playoffs.
