Andrei Svechnikov powered the Carolina Hurricanes with a hat trick, and Frederik Andersen stopped 28 shots as Carolina defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Saturday night.
Jackson Blake also found the net for the Hurricanes, who continued their strong run by improving to 6-1-1 over their last eight games. Sebastian Aho played a key role with three assists, one night after Carolina dismantled defending Stanley Cup champion Florida in a 9-1 rout.
New Jersey’s Timo Meier accounted for the Devils’ lone goal, snapping the team’s brief two-game winning streak. The loss dropped the Devils to 4-8-1 since mid-December.
Svechnikov opened the scoring midway through the second period, blasting a shot past Jacob Markstrom at 13:12. He struck again just 57 seconds later, giving Carolina a 2-0 edge heading into the intermission. Markstrom finished with 29 saves in defeat.
Meier spoiled Andersen’s shutout bid with a power-play goal early in the third, but Blake restored the Hurricanes’ two-goal cushion at 8:33. Svechnikov completed his hat trick late in regulation with his 16th goal of the season.
Carolina, which sits atop the Metropolitan Division with a seven-point cushion over the Islanders, has now won all three meetings with New Jersey this season. The clubs will face off again on March 28 in Raleigh.
Up next
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Devils: Open a four-game road trip Monday night at Calgary.
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Hurricanes: Host Buffalo on Monday night.
