Devils unable to keep up with Hurricanes in 5-2 loss
Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and an assist to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
RALEIGH, N. C. (AP) — Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and an assist to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
Shayne Gostisbehere, Jackson Blake, Jordan Staal and Seth Jarvis also scored for the Hurricanes, who won for the fourth time in five games. Brandon Bussi stopped 17 shots to win his second straight start after losing his previous three. Timo Meier and Evgenii Dadonov scored for New Jersey and Jacob Markstrom had 29 saves.
It was only the second loss in seven games for the Devils. Ehlers, who has seven goals and 10 assists in 13 games this month, fueled a three-goal second period for the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes signed Ehlers to a six-year, $51 million contract in the offseason.
After not scoring a goal in the first 11 games of the season, Ehlers has 23 goals in 61 games. The 30-year-old left wing spent the first 10 seasons of his NHL career with Winnipeg. He has found a role in Carolina on a checking line with Staal, the Hurricanes’ captain, and gritty veteran winger Jordan Martinook .