Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored once and added two assists as the Carolina Hurricanes wrapped up a record-setting regular season with a 6-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.
Having clinched the Metropolitan Division title two days earlier, the Hurricanes added to their franchise records for wins (54) and points (116) in a season.
“That’s a grind,” said coach Rod Brind’Amour. “To do it the way our group did it, I think, is pretty special. That’s a pretty darn good record, and we did it the right way.”
Ethan Bear, Martin Necas, Teuvo Teravainen, Steven Lorentz, and Jordan Martinook also scored for the Hurricanes, who enter the playoffs on a six-game winning streak.
“All eyes ahead,” Martinook said. “It’s going to be about us getting ready and starting the next journey.”
Goalie Antti Raanta made 27 saves and improved to 7-0-1 against New Jersey.
“We’re taking steps in the right direction,” Lorentz said. I think we have another step to take come playoff time.”
The Hurricanes scored four or more goals in eight of their last 10 games.
“You can see why they’re in the playoffs,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “Their puck play, they’re strong on pucks. That’s a team that you can use as an example of how hard you’ve got to skate and how hard you’ve got to play.”
Fabian Zetterlund, Jesper Bratt, and Jimmy Vesey scored for the Devils. Pavel Zacha added two assists, and Andrew Hammond stopped 30 shots. The Devils (0-3-2 in their last five games) have one game remaining.
Martinook’s forechecking disrupted New Jersey’s transition, leading to Bear’s goal in his seventh game of the month to open the scoring. Necas and Kotkaniemi added goals within the first 13 minutes. With assists on the first two goals, Kotkaniemi secured his first three-point game in his 237th career appearance and became the only Carolina player this season with a three-point period.
Kotkaniemi returned to the ice after missing the last five games, having played only twice since late March due to injuries.
“At the beginning when they had the 3-0 lead, you can’t give up that,” Zetterlund said. “It’s too easy for them. We kind of know they’re going to go out aggressive.”
Zetterlund’s second career goal came 62 seconds after New Jersey fell into a 3-0 hole. Bratt’s third-period goal tied him for the team lead with 26 goals.
RESTING UP
Captain Jordan Staal, second-leading scorer Andrei Svechnikov, and defenseman Jaccob Slavin sat out to limit wear and tear. Defenseman Brady Skjei and right winger Jesper Fast played in all 82 games for the Hurricanes this season. Slavin (79 games), Staal (78), and Svechnikov (78) are staples in Carolina’s lineup.
If he plays Friday night, Devils center Dawson Mercer can become his team’s only player to appear in all 82 games. Nico Hischier, second on the team with 59 points, was scratched Thursday night.
AT LEAST ONE TROPHY
Raanta and teammate Frederik Andersen won the Jennings Trophy, awarded to the goaltenders who have played at least 25 games for the team and allowed the fewest goals. Carolina conceded a league-low 202 goals, marking the first time franchise members have won the trophy.
“It’s definitely a team award,” Brind’Amour said. “Obviously, you’ve got to have good goalies to have a good team. It’s a good little capper to the season.”
Andersen, out since April 16 with a lower-body injury, and Raanta finished with 35 and 15 wins, respectively, in their first seasons with Carolina. Andersen is the eighth goalie to win the trophy with multiple teams, previously winning with Anaheim in 2015-16. Alex Lyon (1-0-1), Jack LaFontaine (0-1-0), and Pyotr Kochetkov (3-0-0) also played seven games in net for the Hurricanes this season.
HOME COOKING
The Hurricanes finished with a 29-8-4 record at home, with 62 points, just two shy of their PNC Arena record set during the 2005-06 Stanley Cup-winning season. Carolina has secured home-ice advantage for at least the first two playoff series.
UP NEXT
- Devils: Host the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night.
- Hurricanes: Home against a to-be-determined opponent to open the playoffs next week.
