As the series shifted to New Jersey for the first time, the Canes were hoping to do more of what made them successful in the first two games, where they outscored the Devils by a combined score of 11-2.
Turning to Frederik Andersen for a fourth consecutive game, the netminder had allowed just three goals in three starts this postseason. However, when the puck dropped at the Prudential Center, it took just 12:31 for the home club to match Andersen's goals against total.
New Jersey found twine three times separated by just 6:33, quickly taking control of the game. Their line of Timo Meier, Jack Hughes, and Dawson Mercer combined for five points in the opening 20 minutes, setting the tone for what would be a monstrous afternoon for their group.
Carolina would find some life in the second period, but they were already too far behind the eight ball.
A fourth Devils tally just 54 seconds into the second period would end Andersen's afternoon, bringing in Pyotr Kochetkov for his first action of the 2023 postseason.
Carolina did perk up in response to the decision by their coaching staff, finally getting on the scoreboard to stop the bleeding momentarily just 67 seconds later. Sebastian Aho's fifth of the playoffs made it a 4-1 game.
