Newark, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils secured a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night, powered by defenseman Luke Hughes’ standout performance with a goal and an assist. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom delivered another strong outing, making 29 saves to help extend New Jersey’s winning streak to three games.
Ondrej Palat, Nico Hischier, and Dawson Mercer also found the back of the net for the Devils, who have now won six of their last seven games.
The Hurricanes, struggling with consistency, got goals from Eric Robinson and Brent Burns but suffered their third loss in four games. Carolina managed 31 shots on goal, a significant increase compared to the Devils’ recent streak of allowing 20 or fewer shots in their last seven outings.
Game Highlights
The scoring began with Robinson netting the opener at 10:03 of the first period, slipping the puck past Markstrom, who had been coming off back-to-back shutouts.
New Jersey responded emphatically later in the period. Palat tied the game at 16:14, followed just 42 seconds later by Hischier’s team-leading 18th goal, giving the Devils a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
Carolina equalized quickly in the second period, with Burns scoring just 22 seconds in. However, Luke Hughes reclaimed the lead for New Jersey at 4:15, showcasing his offensive prowess. Mercer added insurance with a goal at 8:47, sealing the Devils’ win.
Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 19 shots in the loss.
Recent Performances
The Devils are riding high after a dominant 5-0 shutout win against the New York Rangers on Monday and a 3-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins last weekend.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are looking to rebound following a 5-2 loss to Nashville earlier in the week.
Takeaways
- Devils: New Jersey has been in impressive form, going 17-6-1 since a shutout loss to Calgary on November 1.
- Hurricanes: Defensive lapses have been costly, with the team allowing four goals in back-to-back games after previously limiting opponents to three or fewer in six straight.
Pivotal Moment
Hischier’s goal late in the first period, just 42 seconds after Palat tied the game, gave the Devils the momentum they needed to control the rest of the contest.
Notable Stat
Markstrom continues to shine in his first season with the Devils, boasting a 19-6-2 record.
What’s Next
The two teams will face off again on Saturday, this time in Carolina, to complete the home-and-home series.
