Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Big blow? Hurricanes pry precious points from Devils

Cory Schneider, Adam Larsson, Joakim Nordstrom

As New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider (35) looks on, teammate Devils defenseman Adam Larsson (5), of Sweden shoves Carolina Hurricanes left wing Joakim Nordstrom (42), of Sweden during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

AP

If the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils are to be taken seriously in the East playoff races, they need to win games like these ... or get into overtime, at minimum.

The Hurricanes were the only team who succeeded on Tuesday, grinding out a 3-1 win against the Devils.

To an extent, it was a “One team has to win” situation. The Hurricanes broke a three-game losing streak and won for the second time in six games; the Devils dropped their third straight and only hold one win in seven contests.

It’s not as if either team was loading up at the trade deadline, but they’re not so far from the mix that you can dismiss their chances altogether.

The Devils may be in particular trouble, however, with a brutal stretch of tough opponents and road dates (five of six away from New Jersey) coming up.

If Ray Shero & Co. haven’t already written off the season, they may really rue these lost points.

On another note, Derek Ryan made waves by scoring his first NHL goal in his first game ... at age 29.