2023-24 Regular Season, Game 51: Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils (Pregame)

The Carolina Hurricanes got back in the win column on Thursday night in a spirited and odd encounter with the Colorado Avalanche. Martin Necas was the early story, scoring a natural hat trick in just 16:51 in the first period to propel the Canes to a 3-0 lead. It looked like that would be the case going into the intermission, but Zach Parise scored his first goal with the Avalanche during a 4-on-4 to cut into the Canes' lead. Seven seconds later, Samuel Girard threw the puck at the net from just inside of center ice. Pyotr Kochetkov went to catch it but it hit his glove and went into the net. What looked to be a 3-0 lead was quickly just 3-2. Rod Brind'Amour opted to change goalies in the second period, sending Antti Raanta out to take over. Raanta was phenomenal, keeping the Avalanche from tying the game. To help matters, Michael Bunting buried a goal on the power play to restore the two-goal lead. To start the third period, Kochetkov was back in the net after the team announced that Raanta had suffered a lower-body injury. Kochetkov didn't allow the end of the first period to haunt him, stopping ten shots. Seth Jarvis, playing in his 200th game, sealed the deal by being awarded a goal after being slashed going for the empty net. The Canes got some revenge for the loss they'd suffered in Denver earlier in the season, winning 5-2. Along with Necas' hat trick, Teuvo Teravainen finished the game with four assists, while Brent Burns had two assists.

The Opponent: New Jersey Devils (25-21-3, 53 Points- 6th in the Metropolitan Division)

Last Meeting- The first encounter since meeting in the postseason was the penultimate game for both teams before the All-Star Break. Sebastian Aho needed just 90 seconds to open the scoring, beating Nico Daws on a breakaway with an elevated backhander. The Canes poured it on in the second period. Teuvo Teravainen scored on the power play less than three minutes into the middle frame. Just 25 seconds later, Jordan Staal added to the lead, making it 3-0. This ended Daws' night as Vitek Vanecek took over. The Devils broke the shutout early in the third period as Justin Dowling scored his first of the season to finally solve Antti Raanta. Jesper Bratt brought the Devils within a goal, but it came with less than four seconds left, making it moot as the Canes held on for a 3-2 win less than 24 hours after beating the Bruins in Boston.

Since We Last Met- The Devils are in a bit of a lull right now. They're just 6-7-1 in their last 14 games, including losses in two of their last three since they last visited Raleigh. New Jersey lost its final game before the break 6-3 to the Lightning before coming back and beating Colorado in their first game back on Tuesday. They're coming off a 5-3 loss to the Flames on Thursday night. Jesper Bratt, who remains the team's leader in assists and points, recorded three assists, while three others finished with multi-point games. Bratt trails only Tyler Toffoli in goals, with 20 and 21, respectively. The Devils are still being bitten by the injury bug but received some major help on Thursday with the return of Jack Hughes. Their defense has been especially hard, with Dougie Hamilton, Jonas Seigenthaler, and Brendan Smith all expected to miss the game in Raleigh.

Stories/Keys of the Night

1. Honoring Hartford

Sporting the white jerseys worn by the Whalers, the Hurricanes will honor their roots tonight against the Devils. Theme nights like this are always fun, though it adds a layer of pressure to perform well. I know there are some who don't feel the Canes should sport the Whalers' colors, but I think those people need to calm down. It's supposed to be fun. The Canes are 4-0-3 since they started celebrating Whalers Night, so it has proven to be a good time for the guys on the ice. 

2. Raanta's Injury Provides Another Wrinkle

If I had a dollar for every time a Canes goalie has gotten hurt in the last three years, I'd be a rich man. Whenever one goalie comes back, another gets hurt. This time, Antti Raanta is the one on the shelf after leaving Thursday's game after playing the second period. It's unclear what the severity of the injury is, but it's becoming too regular an occurrence. The team still has Pyotr Kochetkov and Spencer Martin available, but that duo doesn't scream "playoff-ready." With Frederik Andersen's timetable still uncertain, a long-term injury could force the team to act sooner than later.

3. Jack is Back

As I mentioned earlier, Jack Hughes was back in the lineup for the Devils on Thursday night. While he didn't find the scoresheet, it was a welcome sight for a team dealing with their share of struggles. Hughes wasn't in the lineup when the Devils were in Raleigh before the All-Star Break, making this the first time he'll face the Canes since May. When he has been in the lineup, he's produced points in bunches. With 45 points in 33 games, he's one of the most prolific scorers per game in the league. He's lethal on the power play, too. Hughes will be the one to watch on the other side as he continues to work back to 100%.