Logan Stankoven scored twice in the second period as the Carolina Hurricanes earned a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first-round series Sunday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.
The Hurricanes began their sixth postseason meeting with the Devils by controlling all facets of the game other than a New Jersey push early in the third period and can grab a two games to none lead on Tuesday.
Stankoven, who was acquired from the Dallas Stars for Mikko Rantanen at the deadline, notched his second career multi-goal postseason game. He helped Carolina expand a one-goal lead into a 3-0 margin by tallying twice in a span of 6:31.
“I love playing in the big games and meaningful hockey,” Stankoven said. “I’m motivated to try and contribute in any way possible. It’s always a nice feeling to get on the scoresheet.”
Jalen Chatfield scored early in the first period for the Hurricanes, who won for the 32nd time at home this season. Andrei Svechnikov added an empty-net goal and Taylor Hall collected two assists.
Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen finished with 23 saves, including a diving stick save on Timo Meier with 9:38 left in the third.
“For us to win we’re going to need 20 guys chipping in and going after the game, ‘I contributed,'” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “I think that’s what we got tonight.”
Nico Hischier scored on a 4-on-4 late in the second for the Devils, who rarely exited the defensive zone cleanly and had few good chances until early in the third.
New Jersey goalie Jacob Markstrom made 41 saves and was frequently under siege. Carolina took 11 of the game’s first 13 shots on net and finished the opening period with 17 shots but only held a 1-0 lead.
“I thought the second period we were just overwhelmed and that’s not good enough,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said. “The third period was good and the damage was done by then.”
With 17:36 remaining in the first period, Chatfield used teammate William Carrier as a screen in the crease and ripped a wrist shot from the right point after Jack Roslovic won an offensive zone faceoff from Cody Glass.
Markstrom kept it at 1-0 by making five saves on Carolina’s first power play and then slid across the crease to stop Andrei Svechnikov on another power play with 4:09 left.
Stankoven put Carolina up 2-0 with 13:23 left in the second following a giveaway by Hischier behind the Carolina net. After Hischier’s miscue, Stankoven took a shot from the right circle that trickled by Markstrom’s pad.
During a delay of game penalty to Dawson Mercer, Stankoven scored again when he was alone at the left faceoff dot. He got a clean cross-ice pass from Hall and his shot sailed by Markstrom into the upper right corner.
Hischier made it 3-1 with 69 seconds left on a 4-on-4 when he finished off a rush along the left wing by putting a shot over Andersen’s glove from the left circle.
–Field Level Media
