Yahoo Sports Devils Suffer 5-2 Loss To Hurricanes To Start Six-Game Road Trip
The New Jersey Devils suffered a 5-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes to end their home-and-home back-to-back series. Paul Cotter and Ondrej Palat found the back of the net, while goaltender Jake Allen made 37 saves on 41 shots for a .902 save percentage.
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After a scoreless first period, Cotter broke through 2:56 into the second period. The 25-year-old got the puck away from Jesperi Kotkaniemi and beat goaltender Dustin Tokarski. His unassisted goal was his eighth of the season and first since Nov. 12.
Dec 28, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; New Jersey Devils center Paul Cotter (47) scores a goal past Carolina Hurricanes goal Dustin Tokarski (34) during the first period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
The Hurricanes tied the game in the middle frame's final seconds. Defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Brenden Dillon, along with the Jack Hughes' line, were exhausted and hemmed in their zone when Dmitry Orlov's slap shot beat Allen.
Palat gave New Jersey a 2-1 lead a little over a minute into the third period. It was the 33-year-old's second goal in as many nights. He finished Saturday night's game with one goal, two blocked shots, and three hits.
A mere 51 seconds later, Sebastian Aho scored his 12th goal of the season to tie the game.
At the 6:28 mark of the final frame, Timo Meier and Martin Necas collided near center ice. The Devils' power forward was assessed as a kneeing and match penalty.
Timo Meier was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct for kneeing Martin Necas pic.twitter.com/HlZQQPRA6n
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 29, 2024
"It is a tough one," head coach Sheldon Keefe said of the major penalty on Meier. "Obviously, the refs, when they see it live, don't see anything there. They see it as clean. They review it because of the guy laying on the ice after the fact, and the guy laying on the ice plays three and a half of the five minute major. That's a tough one. It is a tough message for the players that maybe if you take a big hit that laying down on the ice has its benefits."
The Hurricanes additionally received goals from Jackson Blake and Jack Roslovic (2) to earn a 5-2 victory in the team's final regular-season meeting.
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