"Rest is Crucial": 2024-25 Regular Season, Game 19: Hurricanes at New Jersey Devils

The Hurricanes looked to finish their back-to-back on a high note against the New Jersey Devils. After scoring three times early in the third period to beat the Flyers on Wednesday night, they were looking to ensure a winning trip by besting a well-rested Devils team. Brett Pesce played his first game against the team that drafted him after missing their first get together of the campaign. Sitting atop the division at this juncture, this could be a massive four-point game for both sides.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

CAR (8:43)- Jack Roslovic (11) (Dmitry Orlov (8) & Jalen Chatfield (6))

NJD (14:45)- Jesper Bratt (9) (Jack Hughes (15) & Ondrej Palat (3))

2nd Period

NJD (0:46)- Stefan Noesen (10) PP (Jack Hughes (16) & Jesper Bratt (17))

3rd Period

CAR (0:12)- Andrei Svechnikov (7) PP (Martin Necas (20) & Shayne Gostisbehere (10))

NJD (10:35)- Dougie Hamilton (2) (Dawson Mercer (7) & Tomas Tatar (4))

NJD (14:05)- Jesper Bratt (10) PP (Stefan Noesen (8) & Jack Hughes (17))

My Thoughts

The New Jersey Devils have so many former Hurricanes on their teams it's starting to feel like they're purposely trying to copy us. Some of them we don't like, like Erik Haula. Some of them we have fond memories of their short time, like Dougie Hamilton. Then there's Stefan Noesen and Brett Pesce. Both were such good Hurricanes that seeing them in another uniform feels weird. Noesen's situation is a little different since it's his second tour with the Devils and he played in the first meeting in Raleigh. However, Pesce in that uniform feels wrong. I love the Hurricanes' defensive group, but not having Pesce this season leaves me with an empty feeling. I wish them all the best (except for Haula) in every game they play that isn't against the Canes.

Getting to the game itself, the Hurricanes gifted the Devils all four of their goals in different ways. First, Jack Roslovic follows up his goal by turning the puck over and allowing the Devils to come alive after the Canes dominated the first period. Then, they allowed a 5-on-3 goal early in the second period to Noesen. The game-winner was the result of Spencer Martin mishandling the puck behind the net and allowing the Devils to control it before Hamilton buried a one-timer. The dagger was Jesper Bratt's second of the night on the power play after a call that Jackson Blake might get in a few years. I don't want to discount that the Devils' skill was on full display. They didn't luck into these goals. They earned every bounce they received tonight. However, the Canes certainly did their part to help them along.

No team has gotten more practice at trying to kill 5-on-3 disadvantages. "Trying" is the operative word there because they haven't done a good job of killing them. This is the second time they've allowed a 5-on-3 goal to the Devils this season. The first time didn't cost them much. This time stung worse. It's their fifth 5-on-3 goal allowed this season, three more than any other team in the league. It's the only real blemish against the penalty kill because they've looked great this season otherwise. They did allow a 5-on-4 goal tonight, too, so they were far from perfect in New Jersey. 

I understand that moral victories aren't for everyone. More often than not, I don't love them, but finding silver linings in these situations prevents you from going completely crazy and obsessing over the small things, like one loss. The Hurricanes never really found their stride against the Devils and never was it more evident than during the second period. That being said, a Hurricanes team playing a back-to-back played a decent road game against a well-rested Devils team, never falling out of the game. They came out to begin the third period and found some magic to tie the game at two before the wheels eventually fell off. The Devils are a very good team and the Canes showed tonight that their tired group is just as good as the Devils on several days rest.

When We Meet Again- The Devils and the Hurricanes will play a back-to-back home-and-home right after Christmas, starting in New Jersey on the 27th and moving to Raleigh on the 28th. 

#RaiseUp First Star of the Game- Andrei Svechnikov

Martin Necas deserves some love for his incredible pass, but Andrei Svechnikov's shot is what we're going to remember about the tying goal. He nearly gave the Canes the lead shortly after his goal. Svechnikov was the Canes' best forward tonight, putting forth many of their best chances throughout the game. You could make an argument that he should've drawn a penalty shot on his breakaway in the first period. His three shots tied the captain for the team lead and was one shot off the lead for the game.

The Road Ahead- The road trip ends in Columbus on Saturday. While the game against the Blue Jackets is important, it's hard not to look at next week's schedule. The Hurricanes will welcome the Dallas Stars and the New York Rangers to town on Monday and Wednesday before a home-and-home with the Florida Panthers next weekend. The Columbus game feels like a must-win with how big the next four games are going to be.