Can New Jersey Devils Make a Comeback in Game 4 Against Carolina Hurricanes?

After suffering their worst playoff loss in franchise history in game three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Carolina Hurricanes bounced back in Newark to take a 3-1 series lead home to Raleigh. The Canes found themselves in a 4-0 hole by the middle of the second period on Saturday before Jordan Martinook’s short-handed goal put them on the board. Although they were able to add three more goals (including two empty-netters) before the final horn, it was too little, too late for the Hurricanes.

However, one of the hallmarks of this Hurricanes squad is its resolve and ability to bounce back. Game four was proof of this, as the team played a much tighter game defensively and held the New Jersey Devils to just one goal in a 6-1 win. The Canes scored six goals in the game, including two from Sebastian Aho and one each from Jaccob Slavin, Seth Jarvis, Jordan Staal, and Brett Pesce.

Aho has been on an impressive point streak, with six points in his last six games, and the Finnish center is closing in on being a playoff point-per-game player for his career, with 56 points in 57 games. Meanwhile, Martinook became just the third player in franchise history with a multi-point streak of three games or more, joining Aho and Bates Battaglia.

The Hurricanes also set a franchise record with three short-handed goals in game three, including one on a penalty shot by Martinook. Carolina’s penalty kill has been a key to its success in these playoffs, and Martinook’s goal showed that the Hurricanes can not only stop the opposition but also create opportunities for themselves while down a man.

Looking ahead to the rest of the series, there is no doubt that the Devils will keep fighting. However, with the way the Hurricanes responded in game four, they have shown that they can handle adversity and come back from a tough loss. With two of the remaining three games of the series being held in Raleigh, the Hurricanes have a real chance to close out the series at home and advance to the Conference Finals.

This series has been a showcase of what the Hurricanes can do when they are on their game. They have dominated in several areas, including faceoffs, shots, and zone entries, and have demonstrated their depth and ability to score from anywhere on the ice. Defenseman Brett Pesce commented after game four that “we know what they’re going to bring, and we have to bring it right back”, and this mentality will be key to the Hurricanes securing victory in this round.

The Canes have not made it to the Conference Finals since the 2008-2009 season when they won the Stanley Cup, and this year’s squad is eager to make its mark on the NHL playoffs. With the way they have played in this series so far, they have the potential to go all the way. As Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said after game four, “we have to play the game the right way, and if we do that, we’ll give ourselves a chance.”