Recap: Hot Start Gives Canes Game 1 Victory

RALEIGH, NC. -The Carolina Hurricanes showed no signs of rust in their return to game action Wednesday, coming out of the gate ready to go in a 5-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

The Story

Having four full days since their series-clinching Game 6 victory over the New York Islanders, the debate entering the evening was who would be ready to go - the team that was rested, or the group that just won their Game 7 two days ago against the New York Rangers?
When Carolina scored before New Jersey had even recorded a shot, the question was already on the way to being answered.
An offensive zone faceoff just 9:41 in allowed Jordan Staal to get a puck back to Brett Pesce, who fit one through traffic and by the blocker of Akira Schmid to give the home team the game's first goal.
A welcomed sign after New Jersey held Carolina's record-setting defense without a goal during their regular season series and the blue line produced just one goal against the Islanders, Pesce's goal set the tone for what be a scoring start for the club.
Just 5:02 later Seth Jarvis made an excellent defensive stick breakup in his own end, before going the length of the ice and placing one by the previously hot rookie netminder Schmid.

Doubling Carolina's lead, Rod Brind'Amour's group took a two-goal advantage into the first intermission as New Jersey had just one shot.
It was hard to draw up a better start for the team, but their 2-0 lead then quickly became 3-0 just 1:55 into the second period.
After the marker Devils' head coach Lindy Ruff elected to make a change in net, replacing Schmid with Vitek Vanecek in an effort to spark some life into his team.
It turned out to be a great coaching decision, as New Jersey's next 10 minutes were undoubtedly their best of the night.
With an extreme pushback, Nathan Bastian snapped Frederik Andersen's perfect night and pulled the Devils back within two.
The push was enough to perk Carolina back up, getting to more of their game before the second-period's final horn sounded.
Up 3-1 heading to the third, New Jersey had no further opposition to what was an overall exceptional night for the Canes. Brady Skjei extended Carolina's lead three again to start the period's scoring, and Jesper Fast would put home an empty-net goal to close out the night 5-1 in favor of the group.

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They Said It

Brady Skjeioffering his take on the importance of the first period and how it set the tone for both the night and the series...
"It was huge. Obviously they came off of an emotional Game 7. I don't think they had the start that they were looking for. The game's coming up there, they're going to really be flying. But our start was just how we wanted it. We played fast, physical, and got some pucks to the net. It was just the way we wanted to start."
Brett Pescehumorously describing his game-opening goal...
"I just panic back there when I get it (laughs). I saw a lane and I just tried to get it through. Sometimes you get lucky and it goes in."
Rod Brind'Amouron the decision to go with Frederik Andersen between the pipes...
"We've got a couple guys that we can go with, obviously. They're both playing well. Freddie had a great game to close out the last series. In talking with (Goaltending Coach Paul Schonfelder), I felt like we could go either way. But (we decided) let's keep riding Freddie, at least for the start and see how he feels after the game. He didn't have to be too good early, but then he made some big saves as the game went on. He did what he had to do."

Bonus Notes

What's Next?

Game 2 between the two teams will be Friday night at PNC Arena, starting at 8 p.m.
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