Bad-angle goal by Jesperi Kotkaniemi gives Hurricanes a 4-2 win over the Devils

NEWARK, N.J. – Jesperi Kotkaniemi broke a tie with a bad-angle shot early in the third period and Pyotr Kochetkov made 24 saves to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

Martin Necas also scored, and Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teravainen added empty-net goals as the Hurricanes swept the three-game season series with New Jersey and improved to 8-2-1 in their last 11 games.

Nico Hischier and Timo Meier scored for the Devils, who are 1-2 under interim coach Travis Green. Nico Daws made 23 saves.

Goaltending has been a issue this season for the Devils, and the go-ahead score was one Daws probably would like back. Kotkaniemi collected a loose puck in the left corner and immediately fired it at the net. Daws had his body against the goalpost but left an inch over his shoulder and the shot found it.

Svechnikov made it 3-1 late and after Meier got New Jersey within a goal with 12 seconds to play, Teravainen closed out the scoring.

Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour might have been second-guessing himself. Leading 1-0 in the second period and about to go on a two-man advantage, an apparent power-play goal by Brady Skjei was waved off because Stefan Noesen interferred with Daws.

Brind'Amour challenged the referee's ruling and lost, losing the 39-second twoman advantage.

Hischier tied the game at 1-all with 4:33 left in the second period with a shot over the glove of Kochetkov, who had shut out the Devils last month. Jack Hughes set up the goal, stealing a pass by Andrei Svechnikov in the Hurricanes' zone.

Necas opened the scoring on power play at 12:28 of the first period, beating Daws from the blue line for his 20th goal of the season.

The Hughes brothers – Jack and Luke – both hit the goalposts for the Devils.

Evgeny Kuznetsov, who was acquired from Washington this week for a 2025 draft pick, made his debut for the Hurricanes, centering a line with Jesper Fast and Kotkaniemi on his wings.

Up next

Hurricanes: Return home to face Calgary on Sunday.

Devils: At Rangers on Monday.

MARY ALTAFFER/AP New Jersey Devils goaltender Nico Daws watches as the puck hits the net after Carolina Hurricanes center Martin Necas scored during the first period on Saturday in Newark.