By Canadian Press

Hurricanes whip Devils 6-1, take 3-1 series lead

May 9, 2023 | 7:11 PM

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Jordan Martinook had a goal and two assists and the Carolina Hurricanes scored five times in the second period to beat the New Jersey Devils 6-1 on Tuesday night to grab a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Martin Necas scored twice and Brett Pesce, Jesper Fast and Brent Burns added goals as the Hurricanes routed the young Devils for the third time in four games. Frederik Andersen made 21 saves in a relatively easy game after giving up an early goal to Jack Hughes.

The Hurricanes have outscored New Jersey 17-3 in their three wins. The five goals in the second period were the most the Devils have given up in a period this season.

The ‘Canes, who edged the Devils for the Metropolitan Division title, can wrap up the best-of-seven series Thursday night in Raleigh, N.C.

Despite being down 2-1, New Jersey seemed to have the momentum coming into Game 4. It posted a one-sided 8-4 win on Sunday and had things and the crowd going their way after Hughes’ early tip for his sixth goal of the post-season.

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Things changed late in the opening period when Martinook set up Necas with a deft flip pass for shot in close that beat Vitek Vanecek.

Everything went the Hurricanes way in the second period. They got a couple of friendly bounces off Devils’ sticks, and then poured it on as a time out by New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff and later a goaltender change to first-round hero Akira Schmid didn’t change the luck.

Martinook, who didn’t score a point in the six-game first-round win over the Islanders, was at the centre of things in the big second period, which featured the first four goals in a 5:20 span.

Necas put Carolina ahead at 7:26 when Devils defenceman Jonas Siegenthaler deflected a cross-ice pass by Pesce and it went to the Carolina forward alone in front. 

Martinook, who has nine points in this series, had a hand in the final two goals. He had the secondary assist on Burns’ first of the post-season at 12:46.

Martinook closed out the five-goal spree by beating Schmid on a break at 19:36.

Vanecek allowed five goals on 17 shots.

Hughes got the Devils on the board at 1:55, tipping Timo Meier’s shot between Andersen’s pads for his sixth goal. Necas tied at 17:40 in close.

NOTES: The Devils made no changes in their lineup after their one-sided win on Sunday. Ruff again used seven defenceman. … New Jersey D Ryan Graves missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. … ‘Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour made one changing, sitting Jesse Puljujarvi and inserting MacKenzie MacEachern on the fourth line. … Martinook has three goals and six assists in the series.

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AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports 

Tom Canavan, The Associated Press