Taylor Hall’s 2 points help Hurricane snap skid vs. Devils
Taylor Hall had a goal and an assist to help the Carolina Hurricanes end a three-game losing streak with a 3-1 win against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday evening in Newark, N.J.
Nikolaj Ehlers and Logan Stankoven also scored, and Brandon Bussi made 28 saves for the Hurricanes after surrendering a season-high six goals in his previous outing, a 7-5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
Dawson Mercer ended a 16-game goalless drought and Jake Allen made 26 saves for the Devils, who were trying to win three in a row for the first time since Nov. 24-28.
Ehlers was credited with a goal for the third straight game after Sean Walker took a shot from above the right circle that Ehlers tipped. Allen made the save and New Jersey defenseman Luke Hughes tried to clear the rebound, but he inadvertently swept the puck into his own net to give Carolina a 1-0 lead 51 seconds into the game.
The Devils tied it 1-1 at 7:34 of the first period.
Arseny Gritsyuk chased down the puck after his shot off the rush went wide and he then made a pass from below the goal line that went off the skate of Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin and into the slot. Mercer was there to score his 11th goal of the season and first since Nov. 29.
Carolina moved back ahead 2-1 at 7:47 of the second period.
Hall pressured Luke Hughes as he circled back in front of his net and poked the puck off his stick, causing it to slide just inside the post and across the goal line.
Carolina killed three minor penalties in the final seven minutes of the second period and another in the opening five minutes of the third to maintain the one-goal lead.
Hall then stole the puck from Allen behind the net and fed Stankoven out front and he scored to extend the lead to 3-1 at 12:16.
New Jersey went on a power play with 1:33 left and pulled Allen for a 6-on-4 but couldn't draw any closer.