The Carolina Hurricanes emerged victorious against the New Jersey Devils in their first-round Stanley Cup playoff game on Sunday in Raleigh, North Carolina. Logan Stankoven made a significant impact, scoring two goals in the second period during his inaugural playoff appearance with the Hurricanes. This stellar performance helped lead the team to a 4-1 triumph.
The Hurricanes gained an initial advantage with Jalen Chatfield finding the net early in the first period. This set the tone for Carolina, who established a 3-0 lead by the end of the second period, maintaining constant pressure on Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom. Andrei Svechnikov sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minutes.
Carolina’s goalie, Frederik Andersen, was formidable in the net, amassing 23 saves, including a critical block on Timo Meier’s close-range attempt midway through the third period. The Hurricanes effectively shut down a Devils’ power play opportunity with around eight minutes remaining, further solidifying their control of the match.
New Jersey managed to score with Nico Hischier capitalizing on a 4-on-4 opportunity, hammering a cross-ice pass from Jesper Bratt past Andersen. However, Markstrom, despite making an impressive 41 saves, faced a physically challenging game. The Devils also suffered setbacks with defenseman Brenden Dillon, Luke Hughes, and forward Cody Glass leaving the ice during the physical clash.
This victory was a promising start for the Hurricanes, who had not performed well in the final stages of the regular season, losing seven of their last eight games after securing their playoff position on April 3. Carolina held a substantial 45-24 advantage in shots on goal throughout the matchup.
Chatfield’s early goal paved the way for the Hurricanes, scoring just 2:24 into the game. Stankoven, acquired as part of a trade-deadline deal, showcased his talent by netting his first goal from a Jordan Martinook assisted pass following a Hischier turnover. Stankoven scored again in a power-play situation, sending a shot past Markstrom to find the left post’s inner side, extending Carolina’s lead to 3-0.
The series continues with the second game scheduled for Tuesday.