At the end of the season, a single point separated the Carolina Hurricanes from the New Jersey Devils in the standings. On this Tuesday evening, the gap between the two clubs looked more like a gap of around 50 points.
We’ve written it before, but we can write it another time, in case Devils players read this before the start of the next game: These Hurricanes have no big stars, no players to rank among. elite of the league, but that doesn’t make them celery feet. No Madam.
In fact, the Hurricanes are the very definition of a tough club to play against, or “tough to play against” as the most seasoned pundits say, and what’s worse is that the result of this fourth game in the series , a 6-1 victory from them, does not reflect the pace of the game so much. Because it could have ended 10-0.
It’s not complicated, the New Jersey players had trouble touching the puck. Worse, when they had the object on the palette, they gave it to an opponent, as evidenced by these nine turnovers committed during the first period. Jack Hughes alone committed four in the first 20 minutes of play.
As Friedrich Nietzsche once wrote: that’s not how you earn games hockey.
In stark contrast were those methodical, patient Hurricanes, almost perfect in their overall playing, patiently waiting for the slightest sign of weakness, like a snake watching its prey.
It ended up paying off in the second period, when the visitors scored four goals in a row, without the slightest start of a reply, in just 5 minutes and 20 seconds of play. So many goals that brought the score to 5-1 . They added a fifth goal in that period before the second break, just for fun and also because it looked very easy.
The Carolina players therefore have a 3-1 lead in this series, and we would like to tell you that it’s not over until it’s over, but such a statement would probably not square with the reality. It’s unclear if Devils coach Lindy Ruff ever took magician lessons as a kid, but it might help.
A reminder here that the Devils had to change goalies in the middle of a game for the third time in four games since the start of this series, and that’s kind of where it’s playing out, isn’t it? it not?
PHOTO ADAM HUNGER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vitek Vanecek
This time, it was Akira Schmid who took the place of Vitek Vanecek, ordinary as possible, still generous to the point of granting five goals. Schmid, by the way, quickly went from a miracle goaltender in the first round to what he is, a fifth-round pick. Vanecek has never allowed less than four goals in a game since the start of the playoffs.
Of course, the Devils had to do without defender Ryan Graves, absent in the previous game as well, and they opted for a formation with 11 attackers and 7 defenders. Obviously, this was not a recipe for success.
With all that, how many teams have managed to overcome a 1-3 deficit in an NHL series? We don’t really know, but anyway, it wouldn’t make a big difference to know. Because the Devils do not seem equipped for such a challenge.
Rising
Jordan Martinook
PHOTO ADAM HUNGER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Jersey Devils goaltender Akira Schmid reacts after allowing a goal to Carolina Hurricanes left winger Jordan Martinook (48).
A goal and three assists, and a four-point night for him.
Falling
Vitek Vanecek
The Devils goaltender allowed 5 goals on 17 shots.
The number
3
The number of games the Devils have scored a single goal in this series.