3 Keys: Hurricanes at Devils, Game 3 of Eastern 2nd Round

Carolina can take 3-0 series lead; Vanecek could replace Schmid in goal for New Jersey

By Mike G. Morreale

@mikemorrealeNHL NHL.com Senior Draft Writer

May 06, 2023

(1M) Hurricanes at (2M) Devils

Eastern Conference Second Round, Game 3

Carolina leads best-of-7 series 2-0

3:30 p.m. ET; TBS, SN1, TVAS

NEWARK, N.J. --Vitek Vanecek could make his first start in eight games for the New Jersey Devils when they host the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Prudential Center on Sunday.

"There is a possibility that Vitek starts in Game 3," Devils coach Lindy Ruff said Saturday.

Vanecek has relieved Akira Schmid in goal in each of the opening two games of the best-of-7 series; he made 10 saves on 11 shots in a 5-1 loss in Game 1, and eight saves on 10 shots in a 6-1 loss in Game 2.

Vanecek started Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the New York Rangers, who won each by identical 5-1 scores. Schmid stepped in and won four of the next five games against the Rangers with a 1.38 goals-against average, .951 save percentage and two shutouts. The 22-year-old rookie has struggled against the Hurricanes, however, going 0-2 with a 6.78 GAA and .806 save percentage.

Vanecek, meanwhile, went 5-3-1 with a 2.12 GAA and .922 save percentage in his last nine regular-season games before allowing nine goals on 52 shots for a 4.50 GAA and .827 save percentage in two starts against the Rangers.

Carolina outscored New Jersey 9-2 at 5-on-5 in Games 1 and 2.

"I mean, we haven't played our best hockey so we did it again," Devils center Jack Hughes said. "We dug ourselves a hole and now it's time to work ourselves out of it."

Teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-7 playoff round when starting at home are 258-34 (.884), including a 1-0 mark in 2023.

Here are 3 keys to Game 2:

1. Star search

The Devils need more offense from their top players, in particular, captain Nico Hischier (31 goals in the regular season; no playoff goals), forward Jesper Bratt (32 goals; one empty-net goal) and forward Timo Meier (40 goals; no goals).

Meier returned to the lineup for Game 2, finishing with five shots in 16:49 of ice time, after missing Game 1 because of an upper-body injury.

"[New Jersey] has some high-end talent, so it's not really shutting down one guy, you're shutting down their team," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "You've got to give credit to our defense as well, because they're the ones logging the majority of minutes against whoever we're focusing on."

2. Pedal to the metal

Carolina can push the Devils to the brink with a win in Game 3.

"It's going to be a different environment," Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho said. "It's their home ice. At the end of the day, it doesn't really change our mindset or preparation. We're just going to do our thing and keep the foot on the gas."

The Devils, meanwhile, hope to receive an added push with help from their fans.

"We're back home, our fans are excited, and matchups are going to be big for us," Hughes said. "We need to come out and play with energy, be ready to go from the get-go, feed off the energy."

3. Luke's impact

Luke Hughes, Jack's younger brother, will make his playoff debut for the Devils. The 19-year-old defenseman will replace Ryan Graves, who is out with an upper-body injury.

Hughes, selected by the Devils with the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, turned pro last month after two seasons at the University of Michigan. He had two points (one goal, one assist) in two regular-season games with New Jersey this season, scoring in overtime of a 5-4 win at the Washington Capitals on April 13.

"I think it's definitely excitement," Hughes said. "I don't really get nervous. I get more nervous watching the game, in the stands, but no nerves out there. I'm very excited and definitely ready to play."