Hurricanes Lead Series 2-1 After Double OT Loss to Devils

The Carolina Hurricanes lead their first-round NHL playoff series against the New Jersey Devils 2-1 after three tightly contested games. Carolina took a 2-0 series lead with a 3-1 win in Game 2, highlighted by Jordan Martinook's shorthanded goal and strong goaltending from Frederik Andersen, who made 25 saves. In Game 3, the Devils responded with a 3-2 double overtime victory, capitalizing on a strong defensive effort with 33 blocked shots and key goals from Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer. The Hurricanes rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period, tying the game with power-play goals from Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho, but ultimately fell short in overtime as Simon Nemec scored the game-winner for New Jersey. Both teams have shown resilience and defensive commitment, with Carolina relying on Andersen's postseason form and New Jersey utilizing shot-blocking and opportunistic scoring. The series remains competitive as it heads into the next matchup, with each side displaying the grit and depth characteristic of playoff hockey.