RALEIGH, N.C. -- Sebastian Aho hammered a one-timer past Jacob Markstrom at 4:17 of the second overtime to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New Jersey Devils 5-4 on Tuesday night, clinching their first-round playoff series in five games. Aho's score came off a feed from Shayne Gostisbehere during a four-minute power play, following a double-minor high-sticking penalty by Dawson Mercer that sent Jesperi Kotkaniemi off the ice with a towel to his face.
Aho's dramatic goal marked the only lead the Hurricanes would have in a wild game that propelled them into the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They will next face the winner of the Montreal-Washington series, where the Capitals currently lead 3-1.
The Devils stormed out to a 3-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes, only to see Carolina erupt for four goals in a chaotic second period to level the game. But the action settled into a tense grind for the third period and beyond, ultimately culminating in Aho's second goal on the power play of the night.
Aho also scored the goal that tied the game at 4-4 with 8:33 left in the second period while the Hurricanes enjoyed a two-man advantage. Taylor Hall, Jackson Blake, and Andrei Svechnikov also found the back of the net for Carolina, which is one of four teams to qualify for the playoffs for at least seven consecutive years. Notably, the Hurricanes are the only team among that group to win at least one postseason series each time.
This victory also marked the second time in three seasons that the Hurricanes eliminated the Devils in a five-game series that ended with a sudden-death goal in Raleigh; the previous instance occurred in the second round of the 2023 playoffs.
New Jersey's scoring flurry was initiated by Mercer, Timo Meier, and Stefan Noesen, who each scored during the Devils' explosive start, while Nico Hischier added a second-period goal to give New Jersey a brief 4-3 lead after Carolina's comeback.
Markstrom, who finished the game with 48 saves, stood as a one-man fortress for the Devils, particularly during the first overtime. He made 37 consecutive saves between Aho's tying and winning goals, showcasing remarkable resilience under pressure. Carolina outshot New Jersey 34-12 after the second period, with Markstrom facing relentless pressure.
In his first postseason start, Carolina's Pyotr Kochetkov made 31 saves, stepping in for the injured Frederik Andersen, who sustained an injury in Game 4.
Despite the loss, New Jersey's players expressed pride in their performance throughout the series. Forward Timo Meier reflected on the team's effort, stating, "It’s not a great feeling losing, losing like that. Everybody competed so hard, worked so hard. We can get better. We don’t like the result.”
Hischier pointed to special teams as a critical factor in their defeat, noting, "That’s why we lost the series, for sure. We couldn’t get the power play going. That’s on those guys, including me, that are on the ice. That’s definitely frustrating.”
The Devils faced significant adversity during the series, with injuries to key players including Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes, and Brenden Dillon, which hampered their performance. Hischier acknowledged the impact of these injuries, while Brett Pesce praised the team's tenacity despite the setbacks.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe commended the young defenseman Simon Nemec, who scored the overtime winner in Game 3, stating, "We would’ve got swept, had no chance without Nemo stepping up.”
As the Hurricanes celebrate their advancement, they also reflect on a historic achievement: they are now the fourth team in league history to win a series in seven consecutive postseasons, a feat last accomplished by the Montreal Canadiens from 1984 to 1993.
Looking ahead, the Hurricanes are poised for their next challenge as they await the outcome of the Montreal-Washington series. With their recent performance and a roster filled with talent, they are ready to make a strong push for the Stanley Cup.
