Carolina Hurricanes pick up first victory of season, beat New Jersey Devils, 4-2

Jackson Blake may play more games in the NHL than his dad and may score more goals, but he’ll never forget his first goal.

It came Tuesday and it was the winner as the Carolina Hurricanes pushed past the New Jersey Devils 4-2 at the Lenovo Center for their first victory of the season.

After a listless performance and 4-1 loss in their season opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Canes were looking to play more of their game, be sharper, and in the words of team captain Jordan Staal “embrace the grind.” They did just that against a Devils team that had played five games, was 4-1 and already battle tested going into their sixth.

Goalie Pyotr Kochetkov, in his first start of the season, had 23 saves and had the home crowd chanting “K-oooch” in the third period after some timely stops.

Seth Jarvis and Shayne Gostisbehere had given the Canes a 2-1 lead with goals in the second period after the Devils’ Jack Hughes scored the game’s first early in the period.

Midway through the third period came Blake’s big moment.

Defenseman Dmitry Orlov winged a shot toward the net as Blake was skating past the crease, getting a piece of the puck to beat goalie Jacob Markstrom on the deflection for a 3-1 lead.

“I kind of blacked out,” Blake said, smiling, after the game. “I saw ‘Orly’ come and give me a big hug, so that was pretty special.

“I was just hoping it would come. I didn’t care when or how. I was just hoping it would go for me and tonight it did. …That’s something I’ll never forget and it was a pretty special feeling.”

Blake’s fist-pumping “celly” was rated a “7” by Jarvis, although Jarvis gave him extra credit for his “yell and blow-by his teammates” on the bench.

“It was cool to watch,” Jarvis said.

Blake’s goal was the difference after the Devils took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play in the third for Nico Hischier’s score that made it a 3-2 game. In the box for the first Canes penalty: Blake, on a tripping call.

But the Canes killed off the second penalty, a delay-of-game call, and Sebastian Aho’s empty-net goal sealed it.

Blake’s parents weren’t at Tuesday’s game, but Blake, named the game’s first star, said they were watching. He made his NHL debut with the Canes last season, getting in the final regular-season game against Columbus.

Jason Blake was a forward in the NHL for 12 seasons, playing with the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs and finally the Anaheim Ducks. He had a 40-goal season with the Isles in 2006-2007 and had 219 goals in 901 regular-season and playoff games.

Jackson Blake, 21, was a fourth-round draft choice by the Canes in 2021, and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award — hockey’s “Heisman” — at North Dakota after posting 60 points in 40 games in 2023-24.

Blake came into the Canes’ preseason training camp and earned a roster spot while other promising offensive prospects such as Bradly Nadeau and Felix Unger Sorum were assigned to Chicago to play for the AHL Wolves. He was placed on the fourth line with center Jack Drury and winger Eric Robinson in the first two games, and the line made an impact Tuesday as Blake nearly scored his first goal in the opening period.

The start of the season has been a disjointed one for the Canes when Hurricane Milton swept through Florida and postponed the second game against Tampa Bay. But Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said his team checked all the boxes Tuesday.

“That was solid, start to finish,” Brind’Amour said.

The Hurricanes will leave this week on a six-game road trip during the N.C. State Fair run, not returning to Lenovo Center until Oct. 31.

“This was a huge win at home and gives our fans something to cheer about and remember,” Jarvis said.

And something Jackson Blake will always remember.