Andrei Svechnikov was the star of the show as he scored three goals to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, April 27, 2025. With this win, the Hurricanes took a commanding 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series. The game, played at the Prudential Center in Newark, showcased Svechnikov's offensive prowess and the Hurricanes' resilience following a double-overtime loss just two nights earlier.
Svechnikov opened the scoring just 52 seconds into the first period, marking the fourth-fastest goal to start a playoff game in Hurricanes history. Taking a pass from Brent Burns, he fired a shot from the top of the right circle that beat Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom. The early goal set the tone for the Hurricanes, who dominated the first half of the opening frame.
Jaccob Slavin doubled the lead at the 9:47 mark of the first period, capitalizing on a turnover by Devils forward Stefan Noesen. Slavin skated in and unleashed a sharp-angle shot that found a small opening over Markstrom's right shoulder. With the Hurricanes in control, the Devils struggled to establish their game, managing just one shot on goal in the first half of the period.
As the first period wound down, the Devils' frustration continued to mount. Dougie Hamilton took an interference penalty with just 30 seconds remaining, giving Carolina a power play that would carry over into the second period. The Hurricanes wasted no time capitalizing on their opportunity as Svechnikov scored his second goal just 42 seconds into the second period, extending the lead to 3-0.
However, the Devils responded quickly. Timo Meier, who had been a key player for New Jersey throughout the series, made a crucial play by sending a pass from behind the net to Nico Hischier, who scored to cut the deficit to 3-1. Just moments later, the game took a turn for the Hurricanes when starting goaltender Frederik Andersen was knocked out of the game after a collision with Meier. The injury occurred at 4:19 of the second period and left Andersen dazed, forcing him to leave the game.
Pyotr Kochetkov came in as the backup and faced an immediate challenge. Just over three minutes after Andersen's exit, Meier scored on a shot that beat Kochetkov through the five-hole, narrowing the score to 3-2. Despite the pressure, Kochetkov held his ground, stopping 14 of 15 shots he faced in relief.
As the game progressed into the third period, the Hurricanes regained their composure. Brent Burns, who had a goal and an assist, extended Carolina's lead to 4-2 with just 5:46 remaining in regulation. Burns fired a shot from the right circle that slipped through Markstrom's pads and crossed the goal line. The Hurricanes then sealed the victory when Svechnikov completed his hat trick with an empty-net goal with 3:17 left in the game, marking his second playoff hat trick.
"Your best players have to be your best players. They have to be at this time of year," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour, praising Svechnikov's performance. He noted that Svechnikov had been active throughout the game, contributing not only with goals but also with physical play, recording five hits and a team-high six shots on goal.
On the other side, Devils coach Sheldon Keefe acknowledged his team's struggles, stating, "They were better. On top of us way more. We were on our heels. They defend very well. ... We weren’t able to elevate our chances." The Devils went 0 for 2 on the power play, extending their scoreless stretch to 0 for 12 in the series, which has been a significant factor in their struggles against the Hurricanes.
As the series moves to Game 5 on Tuesday night in Raleigh, North Carolina, the Devils will need to regroup and find a way to counter the Hurricanes' aggressive play. With Andersen's status uncertain due to his injury, the Hurricanes will be looking to Kochetkov to step up if Andersen cannot return.
"When you lose your starting goalie it’s never a good feeling," said Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal. "Guys kept moving forward, stuck with the game plan and found a way to grind it out." The urgency is palpable as both teams prepare for the next critical matchup in this intense playoff series.
