How the Hurricanes took a 5-1, Game 1 win over Devils: ‘Obviously the way you want it’
Maybe it was the fact the New Jersey Devils were coming off a highly emotional series win over the New York Rangers.
Maybe it was the fact the Carolina Hurricanes had a few extra days of rest, of practice, after beating the New York Islanders.
Whatever the reason, the Hurricanes were quick out of the blocks Wednesday in Game 1 of the second-round Stanley Cup playoff series and motored to a 5-1 win at PNC Arena, putting together a complete-game victory that had everyone in red do their part and get fist bumps from owner Tom Dundon after the game.
Defensemen scored. Winger Seth Jarvis showed off his jets. Frederik Andersen, the Canes’ starting goalie in Game 1, again was in charge in the crease, winning a second straight playoff game.
“That was obviously the way you want it,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said.
Obviously.
“It’s always nice to come out hot, especially with the fans,” Jarvis said. “It gets everyone engaged and makes for a fun game.”
Hours before Game 1, Devils coach Lindy Ruff was talking about the Hurricanes, the Metropolitan Division champions. Little could he have known he was giving a pretty prophetic description of how the game would play out.
“They’re a team that works really hard on the defensive part of the game,” Ruff said. “Don’t give up a lot. A back end that has real good speed. A real good team on the puck, strong on the puck. Details away from the puck are really good. So it will be highly competitive 50/50 battles.”
Ruff added the Devils would need to “win our share to create opportunities.”
The Hurricanes worked hard defensively in the first period, allowing one shot — a mere flip into the offensive zone from the neutral zone toward Andersen. They were strong on the puck. They won most of the 50/50 battles that can decide games. The Devils did not, could not, win their share.
“They backed us into a corner right away,” Ruff said.
By early in the second period, starting goalie Akira Schmid was gone, pulled from the game by Ruff with the Canes leading 3-0. Not that Ruff blamed Schmid.
“I could have taken multiple players out,” he said.
But this was the Canes’ night, allowing the large, noisy crowd to enjoy itself. It was 2-0 after the first period and 3-1 after two.
The Canes got one goal from its defensemen in the six-game series with the Islanders in the opening round — Jaccob Slavin’s score in a Game 2 win at PNC Arena. That came after the Carolina D-men had an NHL-high 59 goals in the regular season.
“That’s the backbone of our group and what makes us special,” Brind’Amour said.
If they felt the need to be more actively involved offensively against the Devils, who can score goals in bunches, the D-men delivered.
“They created a lot of pressure,” Ruff said. “Their ‘D’ were heavily involved on their forecheck.”
Defenseman Brett Pesce had the first goal of the second round, zipping a shot through traffic after Jordan Staal won a draw in the offensive zone for a 1-0 lead in the first. His defensive partner, Brady Skjei, then scored in the third with a bullet of a shot from the left circle, where Skjei likes to roam, to make it 4-1.
“It’s nice to find the back of the net,” Pesce said. “It’s nice for us to contribute offensively and obviously a good start to the series.”
On his goal, Pesce quipped, “I just panic back there when I get it. I saw a lane and just tried to get it through and sometimes you get lucky.”
As for Skjei, he said, “If it’s working, I’ll keep shooting.”
One game does not make a series and the Hurricanes — and Ruff — expect the Devils to regroup and refocus for Game 2 on Friday. The Canes can only expect to see the Devils, who pushed them all season in a duel for the Metro title, who pushed back against the Rangers in their playoff series, to be at their best.
“You have to look at this game as another lesson,” Ruff said. “You start thinking ‘This is pretty good’ and you get an eye-opener tonight. You’re right back in the playoffs again.”
The Hurricanes will be after more of the same. Take the lead, win the battles, keep the pressure on.
This story was originally published May 4, 2023 at 7:00 AM with the headline "How the Hurricanes took a 5-1, Game 1 win over Devils: ‘Obviously the way you want it’."
