NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils’ blue line, at this point, should be called a bruised line. Jack Hughes, their superstar forward, is out, too.
The Devils, though, refused to fold with their first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes back in New Jersey on Friday. In double overtime, Šimon Nemec — a healthy scratch to start the series — flung a shot past Frederik Andersen for a 3-2 win that gives the Devils hope, now trailing two games to one heading into Sunday’s Game 4.
It was the brightest moment of a difficult season for the 2022 No. 2 pick — one that could build confidence as he continues to develop.
It should build confidence for the battered Devils, too — a team that had already put up a strong fight in Game 2 before coming up short against the healthy, deep and dangerous Hurricanes.
The Devils then blew a 2-0 lead in the third period of Game 3 and found themselves in sudden-death overtime in danger of falling behind 3-0 in the series. When the game was still knotted heading into a second overtime period, their current lack of depth, in theory, should have been exposed.
In regulation, the Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt lines created goals, and Jacob Markström continued to show why Tom Fitzgerald acquired him over the summer.
Nemo put this game to bed but no one’s going to sleep tonight. pic.twitter.com/pFbcrwEdhI
— x – New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 26, 2025
The Hurricanes did not make it easy. Sebastian Aho’s heroics forced overtime, and Andersen made multiple huge saves, including a glove stop on Timo Meier at the doorstep in the second period.
Here are five takeaways from the Devils’ win.
Devils control first overtime
New Jersey had a plethora of chances in the opening overtime period. Andersen had to make a save on Nemec early, and Nathan Bastian had a look in front of the net. Andersen robbed Hischier, too. The Devils also drew a pair of penalties and, with Jordan Staal in the box, Dawson Mercer zinged a one-timer toward the net. Dmitry Orlov got in front of the shot and fell on the puck to keep the game going.
In total, New Jersey outshot Carolina 9-2 in the period. But finishing has not come easy for the Devils this series, and the first overtime was no different.
Canes retain special teams edge
New Jersey has yet to score a power play this series despite finishing the regular season with the league’s third-best conversion rate. The Devils had three chances in regulation against the league-best Hurricanes penalty kill but failed to score and logged only four shots in their six minutes up a man before overtime. New Jersey got two more power-play chances in the first overtime but couldn’t capitalize on either. Orlov’s shot block on Mercer might have been the difference there.
In total, the unit went 0-for-5. That’s far from ideal for a team that relies so heavily on its power play.
Meanwhile, the Devils’ penalty kill could not match the Hurricanes’ short-handed success. After strong kills the first two periods, the unit faltered. Jonas Siegenthaler took his second penalty of the game, an interference minor, and Seth Jarvis scored after a give-and-go with Aho.
Brett Pesce put a puck over the glass 12 minutes into the third, and Aho struck again to tie the game. Hischier remained down on the ice for a few moments after the goal in frustration.
Devils’ top six delivers in regulation
Even without Jack Hughes, the Devils have a top-six forward group that is at least comparable to Carolina’s. Bratt and Hischier are elite players, and Meier has been noticeable all series. That group created both of New Jersey’s regulation goals.
Meier found Brian Dumoulin in a dangerous area in the first few minutes and then grabbed a loose puck and shot it moments later. That play didn’t result in a goal, but later in the period, Hischier got a step on Sean Walker, and Meier fed him. Hischier finished around Andersen for the game’s opening goal.
Bratt drove to the net early in the third, and Mercer knocked a loose puck into the net.
New Jersey’s depth lines continue to struggle getting on the scoresheet. None of its bottom-six forwards have a point this series.
Carolina continues dominating second periods
Carolina has controlled every second period so far this series. That happened again in Game 3, with the Hurricanes leading in shot attempts (32-9), shots (13-5) and expected-goals-for percentage (70.38 percent) at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.
But unlike the previous two games, New Jersey did not allow Carolina to score in the second. It withstood the push, in large part because of Markström. Jackson Blake and Andrei Svechnikov both had dangerous looks from their backhands early in the period, and Aho had a partial breakaway while short-handed. Markström made sure nothing got past him.
Siegenthaler returns, but Devils’ defensive injuries add up
Siegenthaler (lower-body injury) played his first game since Feb. 4, logging 27:09 of ice time and committing two penalties. Coach Sheldon Keefe said before the game that he has not fully built up his conditioning, but the Devils need him in the lineup. Because of the overtime periods and the Devils’ short-handed blue line, he ended up playing over his series average.
As soon as New Jersey got Siegenthaler back, though, it lost another defenseman. Johnathan Kovacevic did not play after the first period with an apparent injury. It’s a blow to an already depleted group. Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon both got hurt in Game 1, and Pesce is playing at less than 100 percent, Keefe said Friday morning. Pesce took both Thursday’s practice and Friday’s morning skate off for maintenance.
With the defensive group undermanned, trade deadline acquisition Brian Dumoulin logged 36:29 in the game. It was the second most he’s ever played in a game, playoffs or regular season, just shy of the 36:35 he played in Game 1 of the 2022 first-round series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers.
(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
