Newark, N.J. — Taylor Hall made an impact against his former club, recording a goal and an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes earned a 3–1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday night.
Rookie goaltender Brandon Bussi continued his impressive season, turning aside 28 shots to help Carolina halt a three-game skid. Nikolaj Ehlers and Logan Stankoven also found the net for the Hurricanes, who sit atop the standings. Claimed off waivers from Florida on Oct. 5, the 27-year-old Bussi improved his record to 14–2–1.
New Jersey’s lone goal came from Dawson Mercer, while Jake Allen made 26 saves in the loss as the Devils saw their two-game winning streak come to an end.
Carolina broke a 1–1 tie midway through the second period when Hall disrupted New Jersey defenseman Luke Hughes, poking the puck free and sliding it past Allen at the 7:47 mark. The goal was Hall’s eighth of the season. Stankoven later provided breathing room, finishing off a feed from Hall in the right corner with 7:44 remaining in the third period.
Hall, now 34, previously enjoyed his most productive NHL season with New Jersey in 2017–18, when he posted a career-high 93 points, including 39 goals, and captured the Hart Trophy as league MVP.
The Hurricanes struck early, opening the scoring just 51 seconds into the contest. Ehlers was credited with his 11th goal after a puck deflected off Hughes and slid past Allen. Mercer responded for the Devils at 7:24 of the first period, scoring from close range to knot the game at one.
New Jersey entered the night riding some momentum after back-to-back wins, including a 4–1 home victory over Utah on Saturday and a 3–2 road win at Columbus on Dec. 31 that snapped a four-game losing streak.
Up Next:
Hurricanes:Host Dallas on Tuesday night.
Devils:Visit the New York Islanders on Tuesday to begin a stretch of four straight road games and eight of their next 10 away from home.
