Hurricanes 3, Devils 1
NEWARK, N.J. -- Left winger Joakim Nordstrom scored with 1:29 remaining in regulation to give the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-1 victory against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Tuesday night.
Nordstrom's ninth of the season was the result of some strong work by center Elias Lindholm, who snapped a shot from between the circles that was stopped but led to a big rebound. Devils defenseman John Moore fanned on a clearing attempt, allowing Nordstrom to beat Schneider to stick side for the winner.
Left winger Nathan Gerbe added an empty-net goal with 21.2 seconds remaining.
Goaltender Eddie Lack was sharp, making 29 saves. The only goal he allowed in regulation was off a double deflection.
Schneider stopped 16 shots.
Devils center Adam Henrique scored in the first period while Hurricanes center Derek Ryan answered with a goal during his NHL debut in the second period.
This game had all the excitement that tends to come from two teams that spent the previous weekend gutting their teams before the trade deadline as a sign the postseason is out of reach. Both teams spent most of regulation going through the motions but there were two goals to show for it.
Henrique reached the 20-goal plateau for the second time in his career at 10:54 of the first period. Defenseman Andy Greene fired a shot from the left-wing boards that bounced off right winger Tyler Kennedy, then Henrique's leg and past Lack to give the Devils a 1-0 lead.
Ryan's first NHL goal drew the Hurricanes into a 1-1 tie at 4:36 of the second period. With defenseman John Moore in the penalty box for slashing, Ryan scored a power-play goal by waiting for Greene to move his stick, then snapping a shot from the right circle that whipped past Schneider on the stick side.
The Devils pushed hard for the go-ahead goal in the third period. They directed 12 shots on net during the final 20 periods but Lack denied them all.
NOTES: Hurricanes C Derek Ryan, a 29-year-old from Spokane, Wash., made his NHL debut. He bounced around Sweden and Austria before the joining the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL this season. He had a team-best 17 goals and 42 points. ... Hurricanes LW Brock McGinn and D Ryan Murphy were recalled from Charlotte and were in the lineup. ... Devils RW Devante Smith-Pelly, acquired Monday from Montreal, did not play. ... Devils D David Warsofsky, claimed off waivers Monday from Pittsburgh, was also scratched.