• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Devils down Hurricanes to remain red-hot

Feb 9, 2011 - 5:02 AM Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Mattias Tedenby's second goal of the game was scored 2:42 into overtime, as the New Jersey Devils edged the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-2, at Prudential Center.

Nick Palmieri also scored for the Devils, who have won eight of their last 10 games overall. Johan Hedberg allowed two goals on 22 shots in the victory. Hedberg started for Marty Brodeur, who has a sprained right knee and could miss several games.

"We always seem to play with more desperation when we are losing," said New Jersey forward Travis Zajac. "It wasn't our best game, but we got the job done."

Jeff Skinner scored two power-play goals for the Hurricanes, who opened a five-game road trip that will conclude back in this arena on February 16. Carolina goaltender Cam Ward stopped 31-of-34 shots in the Hurricanes fourth straight road loss to the Devils.

In overtime, Zajac carried the puck into the offensive zone, dealt a drop pass to Tedenby and skated toward the net to force Carolina's Tim Gleason to follow him. That gave Tedenby room to set and he buried a wrister into the back of the cage from the slot as the home crowd celebrated.

Despite the win, New Jersey head coach Jacques Lemaire did not seem pleased.

"I don't think the effort was there and I didn't like the way we played," said Lemaire. "I didn't like our top players, I didn't like our defensemen, I didn't like a lot of things (about this game)."

After a scoreless opening period, the teams traded goals around the midpoint of the second.

First, at 9:22, Skinner's 19th goal of the season gave Carolina a 1-0 lead. Skating on the power play due to an elbowing minor on Anton Volchenkov, Skinner streaked down the left-wing side and out-muscled New Jersey blueliner Andy Greene for position. From a sharp angle near the bottom of the circle, Skinner's wrist shot beat Hedberg through the pads.

An apparent set play by New Jersey tied the score just over two minutes later. Colin White wound up from the centerpoint as if to shoot on goal, but seemingly missed wide on purpose to get a favorable carom off the rear boards. The puck landed directly onto the stick of Jason Arnott along the goal line to the right of the net, and Arnott immediately sent a backhand pass behind him into the goal mouth area for a successful one-timer by Tedenby at 11:31.

Skinner's second power-play marker of the game was scored at the 8:37 mark of the third. Eric Staal's one-timer from above the right circle hit traffic in front before Skinner, from the top of the crease, jammed it past Hedberg.

With 2:54 to go in regulation, the Devils knotted the contest. Ilya Kovalchuk carried the puck across the blue line with a head of steam, darted in between several defenders and took a wrist shot from the right circle. Ward made the save but failed to control the rebound and Palmieri lifted the puck high into the back of the net from near the right post.

"We we have a one-goal lead with a few minutes left to play, we are supposed to win the game," said Skinner. "Unfortunately we weren't able to close it out. They kept putting pressure on us and finally got (the tying goal)."

Game Notes

New Jersey improved to 11-13-3 at home this season...Tedenby now has seven goals in 2010-11...White had two assists...Hedberg recorded an assist on the game-winning tally...Ward made 18 saves in the second period...The visitors were 2-for-3 on the power play, while New Jersey did not garner a power-play opportunity...The Devils recalled goaltender Mike McKenna from Albany (AHL).