Second period burst leads Hurricanes past Devils

Carolina scores three goals in four minutes to rally past New Jersey

Mar. 29, 2026 at 1:22am

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The Carolina Hurricanes scored three goals in just over four minutes in the second period to rally past the visiting New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Saturday night. Nikolaj Ehlers, Jackson Blake, and Jordan Staal scored in succession to turn a one-goal deficit into a two-goal lead, and the Hurricanes held on for the victory.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Hurricanes in the hunt for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Devils' loss drops them further out of playoff position in the crowded Metropolitan Division race.

The details

After the Devils took a 1-0 lead late in the first period, the Hurricanes struck back in the second. Ehlers scored on the power play to tie the game, and then Blake and Staal added even-strength goals in quick succession to give Carolina a 3-1 advantage. The Hurricanes added two more goals in the third period to seal the victory.

  • The Hurricanes scored their three second-period goals between 10:10 and 14:33 of the period.
  • The game was played on Saturday, March 29, 2026.

The players

Nikolaj Ehlers

A forward for the Carolina Hurricanes who scored one of the team's three second-period goals.

Jackson Blake

A forward for the Carolina Hurricanes who scored one of the team's three second-period goals.

Jordan Staal

The captain of the Carolina Hurricanes who scored one of the team's three second-period goals.

Nico Hischier

The captain of the New Jersey Devils who forced a turnover that led to the team's first-period goal.

Dawson Mercer

A forward for the New Jersey Devils who assisted on the team's first-period goal.

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What they’re saying

“Not too happy with our first period. After that, I think we came back and played really well in the second and finished it off the right.”

— Nikolaj Ehlers, Hurricanes forward

“It's about being creative when you get that puck to the net and create some chaos, get the rebound, that's when they're out of place. So for me, it's been going pretty well for our power play.”

— Nikolaj Ehlers, Hurricanes forward

“It's been our best line for sure. And in all aspects. They're not just producing, they're playing well away from the puck.”

— Rod Brind'Amour, Hurricanes head coach

“Honestly, the last stretch was a combination of some bad bounces and, yeah, I didn't play as well as I would have liked. So when you have both of those going your way, it's not a good recipe. But I felt good the last few games.”

— Brandon Bussi, Hurricanes goaltender

“It was not a bunch, but there was a few that could have went and changed the whole outcome of the game. So he was solid. That's what we need.”

— Rod Brind'Amour, Hurricanes head coach

What’s next

The Hurricanes will look to build on this win as they continue their push for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Devils, meanwhile, will try to rebound and get back into the playoff picture in the crowded Metropolitan Division.

The takeaway

The Hurricanes' second-period outburst showed the team's offensive firepower and ability to rally from a deficit, a trait that could serve them well as they make a run at the playoffs. The Devils, on the other hand, will need to find a way to generate more consistent offense if they hope to return to the postseason.