Devils score 8 against Hurricanes in Game 3 of Eastern 2nd Round

NEWARK, N.J. -- Jack Hughes had two goals and two assists, and the New Jersey Devils got back into the Eastern Conference Second Round by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 8-4 in Game 3 at Prudential Center on Sunday.

Hughes did not have a point in Games 1 and 2 at PNC Arena, which New Jersey lost by a combined score of 11-2. Game 4 of the best-of-7 series will be here Tuesday.

"We're back in this thing now 2-1, and we've got a really, really good opportunity ahead of us two days from now to even up the series," Hughes said. "We're in a good spot. If we bring our compete and our focus and we get ready to go off the first puck drop, we'll be in good shape."

RELATED: [Complete Hurricanes vs. Devils series coverage]

Timo Meier scored his first goal and point of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Dawson Mercer had three assists, and Luke Hughes had two assists in his playoff debut for the Devils, who are the No. 2 seed from the Metropolitan Division.

"I thought Luke had a great night from the first shift to the end of the game," New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. "You expect maybe you get a good game, I thought he gave us a great game."

Vitek Vanecek made 26 saves in his first start since Game 2 of the first round against the New York Rangers (April 20). Akira Schmid had started the previous seven games.

"I really felt that our top guys gave us what we needed," Ruff said.

Jordan Martinook, Jordan Staal and Seth Jarvis scored short-handed goals for the Hurricanes, who are No. 1 seed from the Metropolitan.

Frederik Andersen allowed four goals on 12 shots before being replaced 53 seconds into the second period by Pyotr Kochetkov, who made 18 saves on 22 shots.

"We were no good," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "I don't know what else to tell you. I've never seen us play like that. But I give the credit to the other team. They were on it. They were dialed in."

Meier gave the Devils a 1-0 lead at 5:58 of the first period, stuffing the puck around the right post after Jack Hughes made a blind one-handed pass through his and Brady Skjei's legs behind the net.

It was New Jersey's first lead of the series. Carolina led 3-0 in Game 1 and 4-0 in Game 2.

"That was really important," Jack Hughes said. "When they get the first goal there is no risk in their game whatsoever. They're on top of pucks, they got guys back.

"It's not just 1-0, but when it gets to 2-0, 3-0 they have to chase it a little more and the ice opens up a little bit more. They're a good team, and us getting that first goal was big for us, and obviously it made them play a little bit different I'd say."

Jack Hughes extended it to 2-0 at 10:55 with a one-timer glove side from the right face-off circle.

Michael McLeod scored his second short-handed goal of the postseason at 12:31 off a solo rush that started in the defensive zone to make it 3-0.

Nico Hischier gave the Devils a 4-0 lead 53 seconds into the second period with his first goal of the playoffs.

"We talked about it, we knew they were coming," Staal said. "We looked surprised. We shouldn't have been. Everyone was just a little off. Sloppy with the puck, slow on our skates, slow on our forecheck, just a couple inches off here and there.

"Give them credit, they battled hard and they won all the puck battles, especially early. They played a little freer once they were up, and that's their style and their game that we don't want to play."

Sebastian Aho responded 67 seconds after Hischier to cut it to 4-1, ending New Jersey's home shutout streak at 148:55 that dated to the third period of Game 2 against the Rangers.

Damon Severson scored from the left circle at 5:33 to make it 5-1. Luke (primary) and Jack Hughes (secondary) had the assists on the play, becoming the first set of brothers to factor in on a playoff goal since Daniel and Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks on April 23, 2015.

"We came out relaxed, we handled the puck, we were on our toes, we made good plays," Ruff said. "I think we started the game good in Carolina, we just didn't finish it. Tonight, we were able to finish opportunities and force them out of their game."

Martinook scored a short-handed goal on a penalty shot at 12:18 to get Carolina to within 5-2.

Miles Wood made it 6-2 at 3:08 of the third period, and Jack Hughes scored again at 5:17 to make it 7-2 with a shot that hit Kochetkov in the chest before dropping into the net.

Staal and Jarvis then scored short-handed goals 50 seconds apart. Staal made it 7-3 at 7:21, and Jarvis cut it to 7-4 at 8:11.

Ondrej Palat scored a power-play goal at 10:47 for the 8-4 final.

"It's a series now," Hischier said. "That's what we wanted to do, have a bounce-back game, and scoring eight goals is a statement. We still have a couple things to clean up, but hey, we'll take a win now, and it's 2-1."

NOTES: The Hurricanes became the fourth team in NHL history, and first in 40 years, to score three short-handed goals in the same playoff game. The Devils are the third team in NHL history to win a playoff game when allowing three short-handed goals. … The eight goals are the second-most the Devils have scored in a playoff game. They scored 10 in Game 3 of the 1988 Patrick Division Finals against the Washington Capitals.