Final
Kovalchuk, Devils aim to extend streaks in Carolina
Feb 19, 2011 - 4:23 PM (Sports Network) - Ilya Kovalchuk and the red-hot New Jersey Devils will try to extend their winning streak to seven games when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at RBC Center.New Jersey has won a season-high six straight games to post the club's longest winning streak since an eight-game tear from Oct. 29-Nov. 14 of last season. The Devils have also gained a point in their last nine games (8-0-1) and they have an amazing 14-1-2 mark over their last 17 contests.
Tonight's contest is an important battle in New Jersey's quest for a playoff spot, as Carolina is currently holding onto the eighth and final postseason seed in the Eastern Conference. With 64 points, the Hurricanes are 12 ahead of the 13th-seeded Devils.
The Devils have taken two of three from Carolina this season and both New Jersey wins have come in February. New Jersey's most recent win over the 'Canes was on Wednesday, when the host Devils notched a 3-2 decision. Brian Rolston and Patrik Elias scored 85 seconds apart early in the third period to lift the Devils to the comeback victory.
In addition to taking two straight over Carolina, the Devils have also won three of four and six out of eight meetings in this series. However, Jersey has lost five of its last six in Raleigh and was dealt a 6-3 loss when the clubs met at RBC Center on New Year's Day.
Kovalchuk enters tonight riding the longest current point streak in the NHL, as he has reached the scoresheet in nine straight games. He scored the only goal of the game in Friday's 1-0 home victory over the New York Rangers and has seven goals and four assists during the scoring run.
Kovalchuk scored near the midway mark of the second period on Friday. The speedy winger gathered the puck at center ice, went in on a breakaway and beat Henrik Lundqvist with a wrister.
"Yeah, I'm feeling confident," Kovalchuk told New Jersey's web site. "I've been here more than a year, and the coach trusts me a lot. When you feel that kind of positive thing from behind bench, it gives you a lot of energy and you want to work really hard."
Johan Hedberg stopped 16 shots to record his second shutout of the season for the Devils. It was the 16th career shutout for Hedberg, who could make way for the return of Martin Brodeur tonight.
Brodeur had missed four straight games with a sprained knee, but he was back on the bench to serve as Hedberg's backup on Friday. Brodeur owns a record of 13-19-2 with a 2.74 goals-against average in 38 games this season.
It's uncertain if Brodeur or Hedberg will get the start tonight.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, picked up a 3-2 regulation win Friday against visiting Philadelphia. Erik Cole scored the go-ahead goal with 3:03 left in the third period to lift Carolina to its first victory against Philadelphia in more than two years.
Cole's tally came a little more than two minutes after the Flyers' Braydon Coburn tied the game, and helped Carolina snap a nine-game losing streak against Philadelphia. The Hurricanes had not beaten the Flyers since November 28, 2008, and also recorded their first regulation victory against them since December 19, 2006.
The victory came on the night that the Hurricanes retired Rod Brind'Amour's No. 17. Brind'Amour played with Carolina from 2000-10, after spending eight- plus seasons with Philadelphia. He won a Stanley Cup in 2006, when current Flyers coach Peter Laviolette was the Hurricanes' head man.
Chad LaRose and Jeff Skinner also scored for Carolina, which opened a four- game homestand. Cam Ward made 21 saves.
The Hurricanes are 15-9-2 as the host, while the Devils, who are beginning a four-game road trip tonight, are just 10-17-1 as the guests.
- NEW JERSEY: 4
CAROLINA: 1
Final
Feb 19 9:23 PM - New Jersey Goal - Dainius Zubrus (13), from Patrik Elias at 11:43.
Devils 4, Hurricanes 1 3rd - 8:17Feb 19 9:10 PM - Carolina Goal - Patrick Dwyer (8), from Jamie McBain at 6:49.
Devils 3, Hurricanes 1 3rd - 13:11Feb 19 9:01 PM - NEW JERSEY: 3
CAROLINA: 0
End of 2nd
Feb 19 8:31 PM - NEW JERSEY: 3
CAROLINA: 0
End of 1st
Feb 19 7:43 PM - New Jersey Goal - Brian Rolston (10), from Anton Volchenkov at 16:14.
Devils 3, Hurricanes 0 1st - 3:46Feb 19 7:37 PM - New Jersey Goal - Henrik Tallinder (3), from Ilya Kovalchuk and Nick Palmieri at 11:17.
Devils 2, Hurricanes 0 1st - 8:43Feb 19 7:29 PM - New Jersey Goal - Dainius Zubrus (12), from Mark Fayne and Patrik Elias at 1:14.
Devils 1, Hurricanes 0 1st - 18:46Feb 19 7:11 PM - NEW JERSEY: 0
CAROLINA: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Feb 19 7:08 PM
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