On Friday night, Simon Nemec played the hero for the New Jersey Devils, scoring 2:36 into the second overtime to lift his team to a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.
“It was a great team effort and a huge win for us,” said the 21-year-old defenseman.
Nemec carried the puck up the right wing, made a slick move in the circle, and fired a shot past Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen to secure New Jersey’s first win of the series.
“Phenomenal play by Simon to jump in and attack,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said.
Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer scored in regulation for New Jersey, while Jacob Markstrom made 25 saves. The Devils now trail the series 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Sunday back at Prudential Center.
Sebastian Aho had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, Seth Jarvis also scored, and Andersen finished with 34 saves.
Both teams had chances in the first overtime, but Markstrom and Andersen delivered clutch saves to extend the game. New Jersey, aided by two power plays, outshot Carolina 8-2 in the first extra frame.
The Devils welcomed back defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler for the first time since February 4, but still missed Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon. They also lost defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic to injury after the first period.
Mercer pushed New Jersey’s lead to 2-0 early in the third period. After Andersen denied Jesper Bratt’s initial shot, Mercer collected the puck behind the net and attempted a wraparound—whiffing on his first effort—but the puck deflected off Andersen’s stick and trickled across the goal line.
Carolina responded quickly. Jarvis converted a power-play goal from the right circle at 6:11, and Aho tied the game with another man-advantage strike with 7:40 left, finishing a pass from Andrei Svechnikov after a scramble near Markstrom’s crease.
“We fought back to tie it, but honestly, outside of a good eight-minute stretch, we just weren’t ourselves tonight,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Credit to New Jersey — they deserved it.”
New Jersey had grabbed a 1-0 lead late in the first period when Timo Meier found Hischier cutting to the net. Hischier mishandled the puck while trying to move to his forehand, but it slid past Andersen into the goal with 3:49 left.
The Devils nearly extended their lead late in the second period during a scramble, but Andersen, sprawled on his stomach, gloved Meier’s attempt from close range to keep it a one-goal game at the time.
