- Through the complete face shield, Timo Meier screamed with authority. His first goal of the post-season put the Devils up 1-0 early in Game 3 as the beneficiary of Jack Hughes' second effort behind the Carolina net. With all the focus on Hughes behind the net, both Brady Skjei and Jesperi Kotkaniemi converge on the Devils star player, leaving open another star - Meier - to stuff in the puck past Andersen's pad, bringing Prudential Center to life.
For the first time this series the Devils had a lead in the game.
- There's something to be said for getting home-ice matchups. With the last change (and going 11/7 - more on that later) Lindy Ruff and his staff were able to free Jack Hughes from being chased around all night by Jordan Staal and Jacob Slavin. It was immediately apparent, Hughes with two points in the opening 10:55 of the game (1g, 1a).
Hughes' fourth goal of the playoffs and first of this series came off the Devils' transition game, with a give-and-go with Brendan Smith. Smith's pass squeaks by to connect with Hughes for the one-timer from the right circle. Hughes made it 2-0.
- Michael McLeod's goal was his second shorthanded goal of the post-season, which ties McLeod for most in a single post-season for a New Jersey Devil. McLeod is the latest player with two shorthanded goals since John Madden had two in the 2005-06 post-season run.
- While we're talking about Luke, he also had his first career playoff point, an assist from his knees in the corner to Damon Severson who had the goal for the 5-1 lead. Jack Hughes also assisted on the play, for the elder Hughes' first career playoff three-point game (1g, 2a).
- Luke Hughes made his playoff debut in Game 3, his first game since the regular season finale against the Washington Capitals. Hughes was added to the Devils lineup today after Ryan Graves was unable to play, the result of taking a hard hit into the boards in Game 2.
"I thought Luke had a great night," head coach Ruff said, "From the first shift to the end of the game, for the young man to step in the way he did, to play the way he did, he skated, handled the puck under pressure sometimes, going back for pucks. You expect maybe to get a good game, I thought he gave us a great game."
Hughes finished the game with two assists, and played a total of 14:28, including 1:33 on the power play.
Hughes was not the only defenseman added to the lineup, the club went 11 forwards and seven defensemen, making room for Smith to rejoin the lineup. Without Graves, the Devils were down a penalty killer, a spot Smith could absorb.
"With Brendan, you look at his playoff experience," Lindy Ruff said explaining his decision to go 11-7 and add Smith to the lineup, "you look at the number of games he played last year, veteran guy. I'm just telling you, he's awesome in the room, he's awesome on the ice, he's fearless."
- The Devils hadn't managed more than a goal in Games 1 and 2 but had three on nine shots in the opening period of Game 3.
Frederik Andersen started the game for Carolina, letting in four goals on 12 shots before being pulled and replaced by Pyotr Kochetkov.
A goalie has been pulled in each of the three games this Second Round series.
- Luke Hughes had the giveaway on the power play that led to the Jordan Martinook penalty shot goal. It's a learning-on-the-fly type of job right now for Hughes, thrown into the playoff mix for the first time. But the most notable part about the mistake was having his head coach Lindy Ruff put him right back on the ice, a vote of confidence that can go a long way for a young player.
- Jack Hughes ended the afternoon with four points (2g-2a) and is the first Devil to have a 4-point playoff game since Patrik Elias and Jamie Langenbrunner in 2006.
