Simon Nemec scored in his second overtime at 2:36, and the New Jersey Devils defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 at Prudential Center in Game 3 of the first round playoff series on Friday night.
Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer scored in New Jersey regulations, while Jacob Markstrom made 25 saves. The Devils reduced the series’ deficit to 2-1 after losing their first two games on the road.
Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Ajo scored in the Hurricane, while Frederick Andersen finished with 34 saves.
Game 4 is back at Prudential Center on Sunday, and Game 5 is Tuesday night in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In the second OT, Nemec took the puck to the right, moved the Deke Move in the circle on the right, and fired past Andersen.
Both teams had the opportunity in their first overtime, and the goalkeeper came up with big saves and blocked shots. New Jersey, which had two power plays at the time, had an 8-2 advantage in shots.
Mercer pushed the Devils’ lead to 2-0 at 1:17 in the third term after Andersen made a pad save to deny Jesper Blatt’s attempt to drive. The goalkeeper was out of position, Mercer got the puck and went behind the net, bringing it to the front of the left, but was tired of his attempt to shove it in.
Jarvis got a hurricane on the scoreboard with a power play goal from the right circle at 6:11.
Aho tied it up with another power play goal with 7:40 left. Markstrom left him and saved Andrei Svechnikov’s shot. Andrei Svechnikov put the puck back and went stupidly in the circle on the right, then fired past Sigenharler and Hisia in front of the net.
Markstrom remained to maintain the remaining 25 seconds of regulation, except for the lovely gloves in Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s shot.
The Devils signed defensive man Jonas Siegenthuller for the first time since February 4th, but Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon weren’t in their second straight game. New Jersey lost another defender when Jonathan Kovasevic didn’t return after his first break.
The Devils scored their first five shots on goal in the game, and the Hurricanes didn’t get their first shot until 9:06 when they sidelined Logan Sterncoven’s attempts before the power play expired.
Timo Meyer discovered Hisia was streaking to the net, and although it appeared Hisia had lost control of the puck, the puck slid across the left goal line to lift the Devils 1-0 at the first 3:49. This was the third goal in the New Jersey series and the second goal by Hischier.
The Devils were added to the lead late in the second term during a scramble in front of Andersen, but the goalkeeper was on the stomach and gloved Meyer’s attempt from the left with the remaining 6:04.
