The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New Jersey Devils, 3-2, Sunday evening at PNC Arena.
Led by two goals from Victor Rask, the Hurricanes (33-28-15) jumped out to a 3-0 lead, which proved to be too big of a hole for the Devils (36-32-8) to dig themselves out of.
The Canes played well in the first period, dominating the Devils in almost all aspects, including puck possession, and finished the first 20 minutes of play with a 14-3 advantage in shots and a 2-0 lead.
Carolina defenseman Ron Hainsey, known much more for his defensive play than offensive ability, started the scoring 9:10 into the game on a heady play. Hainsey pinched in from his position on the blue line, and then received a tape-to-tape pass from forward Jordan Staal on the opposite side of the ice, leaving Devils netminder Scott Wedgewood with no chance of making a save.
Only 36 seconds later, the Canes doubled their lead with a power-play goal from forward Victor Rask. Forward Elias Lindholm, positioned on the half wall, found an uncovered Rask in the high slot with a pass, leaving Rask with all kinds of time and space to get off a good shot. Wedgewood got a piece of Rask’s shot with the blocker, but the puck still managed to get past him.
The Hurricanes started the second period, with the same intensity and solid play they showed in the first, scoring for a third time only two minutes in.
Rask, for the second time on the night, lit the lamp, making him just the second Canes player to reach the 20-goal mark on the season. The other player with at least 20 goals, forward Jeff Skinner, created the goal by hitting Rask with a beautiful saucer pass to set him free on a breakaway, where he beat Wedgewood blocker side, again.
Carolina seemed to be in complete control with a 3-0 advantage, until the game and momentum completely turned around as New Jersey scored two goals in a 50-second time period.
The first was scored by Devils forward Bobby Farnham after a missed penalty call by the officials caused a turnover. Canes forward Brad Malone attempted to clear the puck out of his own end when he was hooked by Devils forward Stephen Gionta, causing him to lose the puck which found its way onto the stick of a wide-open Farnham in the slot.
Forward Travis Zajac pulled New Jersey within one goal after Carolina goaltender Cam Ward left his crease to play the puck, but was unable to legally do so quickly enough, as the puck never reached the trapezoid. With Ward slow to get back to his crease, the puck was centered to the front of the net, where Zajac eventually beat Ward before he could get back in position.
The Devils pushed hard for the equalizer in the third period, but were unable to get it, as the Canes held on for a 3-2 win.
