Final - OT
Hurricanes continue postseason push versus Devils
Feb 8, 2011 - 6:26 PM (Sports Network) - The Carolina Hurricanes will try to aid their postseason push with a second straight victory when they visit the surging New Jersey Devils for this evening's clash at Prudential Center.The Hurricanes ended a two-game slide with Saturday's overtime victory over the Atlanta Thrashers, who are currently Carolina's main competition for the eighth and final playoff seed in the East.
While the Devils enter tonight on a hot streak, they do have concerns about the health of goaltender Martin Brodeur, who left Sunday's win in Montreal with a knee issue. Brodeur will miss tonight's game and is considered day-to- day with a non-operable injury to right knee. There is no timetable for his return.
Carolina trailed the Thrashers by one point heading into Saturday's home game, but the clubs were tied for the eighth seed after the 'Canes recorded the 4-3 win. Atlanta lost in regulation to Toronto on Monday, giving the Hurricanes a chance to take over sole possession over the idle Thrashers tonight.
The Hurricanes earned the OT win thanks to Erik Cole's marker with 2:12 left in the extra session at RBC Center.
Starting with the puck behind his own net, Cole sped down the right side and from the top of the right circle he used the defender as a screen, snapping a wrister between his legs and into the left corner for the win.
"I almost turned it over behind my net but I was able to get some speed coming up the ice," said Cole. "I was just trying to get it on net and fortunately it went in."
Jiri Tlusty had a goal and an assist, Eric Staal and Brandon Sutter both had a goal and Cam Ward stopped 34 shots for the Hurricanes.
Tonight's tilt marks the start of a five-game road trip for Carolina, which is 12-12-4 as the guest this year and has lost four of its last five away from Raleigh. Following this swing, the Hurricanes are not scheduled to play consecutive road games for the remainder of the season.
While the Hurricanes are in the thick of the battle for the East's final playoff seed, the Devils are working their way back to respectability with their recent hot streak.
New Jersey had just 10 wins and 22 points after 41 games, but the Devils have awakened since the midway point of the season, going 9-1-2 over their last 12 games. The surge has the Devils tied for 13th in the East, but with 42 points, Jersey is still 16 points out of a playoff spot.
The Devils had a two-game win streak halted Friday with an overtime loss against visiting Florida, but they rebounded with Sunday's 4-1 triumph in Montreal. The win came at a cost, however, as Brodeur was forced to leave the game.
Brodeur started in net and stopped 11 shots through the first period before getting injured while dropping to the ice as he moved into position to make a save. Johan Hedberg took over in net at the start of the second period and made 14 saves the rest of the way, but Brodeur was still the winning goaltender.
Hedberg is expected to start tonight and the Devils have recalled goaltender Mike McKenna from their AHL affiliate in Albany to serve as a backup. McKenna was also recalled in November when Brodeur went out with an elbow injury. The 27-year-old backstop made one start and backed up Hedberg seven times before Brodeur was ready to return.
Ilya Kovalchuk scored twice to help spur New Jersey to Sunday's win at the Bell Centre. The Russian has four goals and four assists over his last six games. Travis Zajac added a goal and two assists for the Devils.
"We played really well," Kovalchuk said. "We moved the puck well, and the (defense) helped us offensively."
The Devils are 10-13-3 as the host club this season and had won four straight on home ice prior to Friday's loss to the Panthers.
Carolina recorded a 6-3 home win over the Devils when the clubs met on Jan. 1, giving the 'Canes wins in six of the last 10 meetings. New Jersey has still won three straight and five of the last six encounters on its home ice.
The 'Canes and Devils will wrap up their season series with two more meetings this month. New Jersey will host the Hurricanes again on Feb. 16 before visiting Carolina on Feb. 19.
- CAROLINA: 2
NEW JERSEY: 3
Final - OT
Feb 8 9:35 PM - CAROLINA: 2
NEW JERSEY: 2
End of Regulation
Feb 8 9:30 PM - CAROLINA: 1
NEW JERSEY: 1
End of 2nd
Feb 8 8:34 PM - Carolina Goal - Jeff Skinner (19), from Joe Corvo at 9:22.
Hurricanes 1, Devils 0 2nd - 10:38Feb 8 8:15 PM - CAROLINA: 0
NEW JERSEY: 0
End of 1st
Feb 8 7:42 PM - CAROLINA: 0
NEW JERSEY: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Feb 8 7:08 PM
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