The Carolina Hurricanes traveled to New Jersey on Friday night with the opportunity to take a commanding 3-0 series lead, but the Devils edged them out 3-2 in double overtime, cutting the Hurricanes’ series lead in half.

The Canes battled back from a two-goal deficit, tying the game late in the third period. However, they couldn’t fend off the Devils, who capitalized in the second overtime to keep the series competitive.

In the second overtime, Devils defenseman Simon Nemec seized the moment to end the game. Skating the puck up the ice, Nemec weaved through the Canes’ defense and let one fly right under the arm of goaltender Frederick Andersen, sealing the win.

Leading up to this point was a long and tough battle for both teams, with multiple players putting their bodies on the line. In the first overtime, both teams were noticeably shaky and slow to the puck, though it mirrored the play earlier in the game. The Canes were nowhere to be found early, registering only four shots, with their first shot on goal coming 10 minutes into the frame.

Devils center Nico Hischier opened up the scoring late in the first period. A pass from left-wing Ondrej Palat sent the puck across the ice to right-wing Timo Meier, who quickly relayed it to Hischier. The center faked a shot to the right, pulling Andersen out of position, and then pushed the puck back to the left, sending it gliding over the goal line.

Just a minute into the third period, Devils left-wing Jesper Bratt made a quick play cutting across Andersen, but sent the puck just wide of the posts, leaving it on the side netting. Center Dawson Mercer saw Andersen out of the paint and took his chance. Sweeping the puck back around to the front of the net, he tried to slap it into the netting, but was caught with an awkward bounce and missed. Andersen, trying to lunge back into position, inadvertently knocked the puck into the net with his stick, doubling the lead for the Devils.

Despite the deficit, the Canes responded after Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler was called for interference on left-wing Jordan Martinook, putting Carolina on the power play. Center Sebastian Aho controlled the puck at the blue line and passed to center Seth Jarvis. The two exchanged quick passes, ultimately finding Jarvis in front of the net, where he fired a snap shot past goaltender Jacob Markstrom to cut the Devils’ lead in half.

The Canes started putting on pressure and creating plays, skating around the Devils and beating them to pucks. With the Canes putting on the heat, the Devils couldn’t clear the puck out of their zone. Former Hurricane Brett Pesce found himself in the box after flicking the puck over the glass, putting the Canes on the power play yet again.

Right-wing Andrei Svechnikov shot the puck from wide of Markstrom, causing him to slide out of position, leaving the net wide open for Aho to slap in the puck that came loose, tying the game at two, recording a second power-play goal for the Canes.

Coming into this series, both teams knew the power play would be crucial and could change the outcome of the series. The Canes, coming into this series with the league’s number one power play kill, have shown exactly why that is and have killed all ten power plays that the Devils received.

The Devils, coming into this series ranking second best in the power play kill, have killed three out of the ten power plays given to the Canes. These teams know power plays can be the difference in these games and alter the outcome if they are capitalized on.

Both goalies were critical, keeping their teams in the game with huge saves. Andersen recorded a .919 save percentage and had 34 saves on 37 shots. Markstrom recorded a slightly better .926 save percentage and had 25 saves on 27 shots.

The Hurricanes stay in New Jersey for Game 4 on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.