New Jersey Devils Will need to come back from a 2-0 series deficit – again – if they want to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. He did so in the first round against the New York Rangers, but storm present a different kind of challenge
storm Ranked among the top forechecking teams in the NHL, won the Metropolitan Division, and they opened the series with a pair of dominating victories.
Now storm They will have a chance to dominate their second round Eastern Conference series when the teams shift to Newark, NJ for Game 3 on Sunday afternoon
If Carolina wins on Sunday, it can sweep on Tuesday. If New Jersey wins, it will ensure a return trip to Raleigh, NC, for Game 5 on Thursday.
storm Are 7-2 in best-of-seven series when holding a two-games-to-none lead devils is 2-7 when dropping the first two, including an 0-5 mark when he doesn’t have home ice advantage
The Rangers opened the first round series with a pair of 5–1 road wins, but devils came back to win the series in seven, winning the next three games and winning the seventh game on Monday. In addition to a goal from Vitek Vanacek to Akira Schmid, New Jersey allowed two goals in its four wins and advanced to face storm won 4-0 on Monday
Having had time to enjoy defeating his opponent in seven, devils Gave up two goals in the first period of a 5-1 loss to Carolina in the series opener on Wednesday before falling in the second period on Friday. After an evenly played opening period, Carolina scored two of its four goals within the opening 3:58 of the second period for a 6–1 loss.
“Right now, five on five, they’re the better team,” devils Coach Lindy Ruff said. “We have to win more battles, be more determined. I thought we started the game really well, but we got frustrated as the game went on, made some bad decisions with the puck, lost the puck Turned away.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored twice after scoring the third goal in Game 1. He scored a power-play goal after an interference penalty by New Jersey defenseman Jonas Seigenthaler and then scored again after Jordan Martinook and Jesper Fast forced a turnover with boards in the offensive zone. ,
Carolina’s Jordan Staal said, “That’s been our style all year long, which is, first and foremost, don’t give them anything, and then just hang onto the puck and create turnovers and send it over the net. “
Kotkaniemi scored before Staal, Martin Nekas, Martinuk and Stefan Nossen scored. In all, nine players stormwho are missing Andrei Svechnikov, Teuvo Tervainen and Max Pacioretti due to injuries
“No secret, we’re missing some firepower, so where are you going to find it?” said Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour. “Right now, we’re doing it up and down the lineup.”
So far, New Jersey’s goals have come from Miles Wood and Nathan Bastian. Jack Hughes took six shots on goal while Nico Hischier took two and Jesper Bratt three. The trio is a combined minus -11 for the series.
“What bothers me the most is that we lost again today,” Hischier said. “It’s the playoffs. Skill doesn’t matter. You have to work hard for your chances.”
devils Still returning home after Schmidt was ruled out in each of the first two matches. Schmid stopped 31 shots in Game 7 against the Rangers but has since allowed seven goals on 36 shots and was pulled Friday night after two periods.
– Field Level Media