Hurricanes 3, Devils 1
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Defenseman Justin Faulk's first even-strength goal of the season broke a third-period tie as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-1 on Saturday night at PNC Arena.
Faulk's previous 12 goals came on power plays. He's the first player in NHL history to have his first 12 goals of a season come via power plays.
Now he has something else on his season profile after scoring the winning goal with 11:43 to play.
Faulk assisted on center Joakim Nordstrom's clinching goal with 3:14 remaining. Defenseman Brett Pesce also scored for Carolina.
Goalie Cam Ward made 19 saves for the Hurricanes, who won for only the second time in five games.
Center Kyle Palmieri scored a tying goal in the third period for the Devils. New Jersey goalie Cory Schneider finished with 22 saves.
Palmieri scored 1:18 into the third period to make it 1-1. He came from behind the net, brushing off Carolina defenseman Ron Hainsey to slide the puck past Ward.
Palmieri has a team-high 15 goals, with seven of those coming this month.
Making his 27th career outing against New Jersey, Ward remains without a shutout against the Devils. His first save of the third period gave him 15 stops before Palmieri struck.
Ward has an 11-14-2 record against the Devils.
The Devils, who are 1-3-1 in their last five games, produced only six third-period shots on goal.
Faulk set up Nordstrom in a transition for Carolina's third goal of the game.
Nordstrom, who had a secondary assist on the game's first goal, notched his first career multi-point game.
The Hurricanes opened the scoring in the second period. Pesce's shot from inside the blue line made its way through traffic, including center Andrej Nestrasil, who was positioned in front of the net.
Pesce's goal came on the 25th total shot of the game. The rookie hadn't scored in more than a month. Defenseman John-Michael Liles assisted on the goal, giving him a three-game points streak.
New Jersey wasn't called for a penalty until center Jiri Tlusty was sent to the box for tripping 3:34 into the third period.
NOTES: Devils D Andy Greene appeared in his 265th consecutive game, one behind Aaron Broten's stretch in the mid-1980s for the seventh longest streak in team history. ... Hurricanes C Brad Malone, who hadn't scored since Dec. 3 against New Jersey, was a scratch Saturday night. ... Two former Carolina players -- LW Tuomo Ruutu and RW Jiri Tlusty -- were in the lineup for the Devils after they missed New Jersey's visit here Dec. 3 because of injuries. ... The Devils eclipsed two goals only once in their previous six games. ... New Jersey doesn't play again until Carolina visits Tuesday night. Carolina goes to Chicago on Sunday.