Sebastian Aho scored 4:17 into the second overtime to lift the Carolina Hurricanes to a dramatic 5-4 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night, clinching their first-round series in five games.
Aho’s game-winner came on a four-minute power play after Dawson Mercer’s high stick sent Jesperi Kotkaniemi to the locker room. Shayne Gostisbehere set up Aho for a one-timer that beat Jacob Markstrom, igniting a wild celebration on the ice.
“It’s unreal,” Aho said. “You almost blacked out for a second — the crowd erupts, your teammates jump on you. Incredible moment.”
The Hurricanes became the first team to reach the second round and extended their streak to seven straight postseasons with at least one series win. Carolina awaits the winner of the Montreal-Washington series.
The night started rough for the Hurricanes, who fell behind 3-0 within the first 10 minutes. Mercer, Timo Meier, and Stefan Noesen scored early for the Devils. Nico Hischier later added a second-period goal to make it 4-3.
But the Hurricanes stormed back with four goals in the second period. Aho scored twice on the power play, including the tying goal with 8:33 left in the second. Taylor Hall and rookie Jackson Blake also found the net, squeezing a shot past Markstrom for their first career playoff goals.
“We just kept pushing,” said Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour. “It would’ve been easy to think we had more games left. But this team doesn’t quit.”
Markstrom was stellar despite the loss, finishing with 49 saves. He held off 38 straight shots between Aho’s second-period equalizer and the eventual winner in double OT, including a barrage in the first overtime. Seth Jarvis rang the post with 4:30 left in the first extra period.
Pyotr Kochetkov made 31 saves in his first playoff start for Carolina.
“I thought our effort was incredible,” said Devils coach Sheldon Keefe. “We were running on fumes, but the guys battled. Marky gave us every chance. We couldn’t hang on.”
The loss marks the second time in three years the Hurricanes have eliminated the Devils in a five-game series, which was decided in sudden death in Raleigh.
