Canes brush aside slow start and then Devils to win 5-2

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 28: Jackson Blake #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates a goal against the New Jersey Devils during the second period at Lenovo Center on March 28, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images Brandon Bussi made seventeen saves in his best performance since the Olympic Break, The Canes shook off a slow first period, and dominated the New Jersey Devils from the second period on to win 5-2 at Lenovo Center Saturday. The Hurricanes had been off since a 5-2 loss to Montreal on Tuesday—a team that will be in Raleigh for the last meeting of the regular season tomorrow—and used the rare lengthy break to rest up.

The break was good for one Hurricane in particular as when the team returned to the ice for practice Friday, Shayne Gostisbehere joined them for the first time in nine games, and on Saturday his presence was felt. As can be expected after a long break against a team that had won five of their last six, the Canes had trouble getting going in the first period, and about halfway through had to kill off what was essentially a double minor. Jordan Staal would take a penalty for hooking at 9:50, and just 26 seconds after that penalty ended Taylor Hall went to the box for tripping.

While Brandon Bussi was sharp in making saves the Canes were able to take care of both penalties, the wear eventually got to them as Timo Meier scored at even strength with less then three minutes left to give New Jersey the lead 1-0. Despite the two penalties and the giving up the lead, the Canes still led in shots on goal 8-6. Carolina woke up in the second period and took over.

With a ridiculous shot edge of 15-5, the Canes were able to dominate the zone, and it very quickly paid off. It led to Taylor Hall taking a trip, and on the ensuing power play Nikolaj Ehlers took a feed from Alexander Nikishin and slapped it past Jacob Markstrom to go up 1-0. As noted on the broadcast, Ehlers was out there as he is the one who stays on the bench in favor of Jordan Staal to win the faceoffs, but that also allows him to jump in with the second group, giving that group skill they had been lacking and the red hot Ehlers got the Canes running.