Jackson Blake's first goal helps Hurricanes down Devils

Field Level Media|published: Tue 15th October, 21:51 2024

Oct 15, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) skates with the puck past Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) during the second period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

Rookie Jackson Blake scored his first NHL goal as the Carolina Hurricanes won for the first time this season, defeating the New Jersey Devils 4-2 on Tuesday night in Raleigh, N.C.

Seth Jarvis and Shayne Gostisbehere scored second-period goals for the Hurricanes, who were playing only their second game of the season. Sebastian Aho added an empty-net goal.

Carolina goalie Pyotr Kochetkov made 23 saves for the victory in his season debut.

Jack Hughes had a goal and an assist and Nico Hischier also scored for the Devils, who were in their sixth game and have won four times. Their 1-0 lead from early in the second period vanished when the Hurricanes scored twice later in the period.

Jacob Markstrom made 30 saves for New Jersey. The Devils struggled to produce much on offense after recording 33 shots in each of their previous two games.

Blake, a 21-year-old winger appearing in his third NHL game after signing with the Hurricanes in the spring out of the University of North Dakota, gave Carolina a 3-1 lead 10:16 into the third period. He skated through the crease and redirected a delivery from Dmitry Orlov.

The Hurricanes scored four goals in the final 30 minutes after losing their opener 4-1 to the Lightning on Friday.

The Devils had won their two previous games, but they managed only 14 shots on goal through two periods on Tuesday.

Hughes scored 1:16 into the second period, his first goal of the season. Nine of his teammates had scored this season before Hughes, who tied for second on the team with 27 goals last season, notched his first.

It was a night of milestones for a couple of Hurricanes. Aho appeared in his 600th regular-season NHL game, while Jesperi Kotkaniemi notched his 100th point with Carolina by assisting on Gostisbehere's goal. Kotkaniemi was playing in his 400th NHL game.

Carolina had a three-day layoff because its scheduled Saturday night game at Tampa Bay was postponed because of the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. The Hurricanes play their next six games on the road.

--Field Level Media

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