The early goal proved pivotal for the home club though, as New Jersey would push back with a strong effort over the remaining 19 minutes of the frame. Outshooting the Canes 13-7 through the first 20 minutes, Pyotr Kochetkov was once again a pivotal portion of the effort for Rod Brind'Amour's squad.
As the rookie held the door shut in his team's own end of the ice, Carolina was able to turn up the tempo on offense in the middle frame. After a magnificent individual effort by Brent Burns that set up a Martin Necas goal was wiped off the board due to a successful offsides challenge fewer than three minutes into the frame, Jordan Staal solidified a second tally for his club in the following 90 seconds.
The Captain sniped a wrist shot over the glove of Vanacek for the first of two Canes goals in the period.
The team's second came via Teuvo Teravainen just 2:04 later, giving Carolina a commanding 3-0 lead and eventually ending the night for Vanacek in net.
As the game advanced to the third period and the later stages of it, Kochetkov was robbed of his third shutout in two weeks by a well-placed shot on the rush by 2019 first overall selection Jack Hughes. It was the only shot out of 38 to beat the rookie all night, giving him his second-highest save total of the season.
But before the game could reach the final horn at 3-1, Stefan Noesen earned his third goal in four games with a must-see effort.
