Newark, N.J. – Andrei Svechnikov’s dominant performance led the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, giving Carolina a commanding 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Svechnikov netted a hat trick, scoring three goals, including a crucial empty-netter to seal the win with just over three minutes left in the game. His performance was a key factor in the Hurricanes bouncing back after a tough 3-2 loss in double overtime just two nights earlier.
Brent Burns added a goal and an assist, while Jaccob Slavin also contributed a goal for the Hurricanes. Sebastian Aho and Jackson Blake each registered two assists in the victory.
“Your best players need to step up in big moments, and Svech was certainly one of those players tonight,” said Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour. “He was everywhere, taking shots and creating chances. You need that kind of contribution to go far in the postseason.”
Frederik Andersen started in net for the Hurricanes, stopping six of seven shots, but was forced to leave early in the second period with what appeared to be an injury. Pyotr Kochetkov stepped in, finishing with 14 saves to preserve the lead.
“It’s never easy losing your starting goalie, but the guys kept pushing forward,” said Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal. “We stuck to the game plan and managed to grind out the win.”
The Devils, meanwhile, were missing several key players, including defensemen Luke Hughes, Brenden Dillon, and Johnathan Kovacevic, all of whom have been sidelined for multiple games. Despite Timo Meier’s goal and assist, and Nico Hischier’s tally, the Devils struggled to keep pace with the Hurricanes’ offensive onslaught.
“We didn’t get enough from our top players tonight,” said Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe. “They were more aggressive, more physical, and we just couldn’t elevate our game to match them. They played better defensively, and we couldn’t find a way to break through.”
After a solid first period, Carolina jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second period. The Hurricanes took advantage of a power play that carried over from the first, with Svechnikov tipping in a shot from Seth Jarvis to extend the lead to 3-0. The Devils quickly responded, as Meier’s assist found Hischier in front of the net, and Hischier’s shot beat Andersen to cut the deficit to 3-1.
However, Carolina’s defense held firm, and despite a strong push from the Devils, the Hurricanes kept control of the game. After Andersen left with an apparent injury, Kochetkov came in and stood tall, helping Carolina keep the Devils at bay.
With less than six minutes remaining, Burns extended Carolina’s lead to 4-2, as his shot from the right circle slipped past Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom after a scramble in front. Svechnikov then sealed his hat trick with an empty-net goal at 3:17, giving Carolina their fifth and final goal of the night.
Despite the loss, the Devils showed some fight, with Meier’s second-period goal cutting the lead to 3-2. But the deficit proved too much to overcome as Carolina controlled the game with timely goals and solid goaltending from Kochetkov.
The Devils will need to regroup quickly ahead of Game 5 on Tuesday night in Raleigh, North Carolina, as they face elimination in what has already been a tightly contested series.
“We made it a game, but being down 3-0 early put us in a tough spot,” said Keefe. “We’ll have to find a way to dig deep and get back to playing our game if we want to stay alive in this series.”
