Michael Cammalleri lifts Devils past Hurricanes

RALEIGH, N.C. -- It took 11 games for New Jersey Devils forward Michael Cammalleri to find his scoring touch, but when he did, the goals came in bunches.
The Devils left wing scored twice in a 2:35 span in the second period before finishing a natural hat trick in the third to lift New Jersey to a 4-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on Sunday.
"We all want to do things to feel productive and help the team win and have a positive effect on the game," said Cammalleri, who has six career NHL hat tricks. "It's all our jobs to provide offense. We've got to score more goals than the other team to win games. To help that way tonight feels real good."

Keith Kinkaid made his second start of the season, stopping 33 shots for the Devils (5-3-3). It was the first road win of the season for New Jersey, after starting 0-3-2.
Eddie Lack made 17 saves for the Hurricanes (3-5-3).
Cammalleri's first goal of the season gave New Jersey a 1-0 lead at 4:31 of the second period. He one-timed Travis Zajac's pass across the faceoff circles. Beau Bennett got the secondary assist.
"Beau Bennett makes a good second and third effort to keep that play alive, and Travis, he's been playing so well," Cammalleri said. "He takes his time, makes plays, and beats people -- and finds me on the back side."
WATCH: All Devils vs. Hurricanes highlights
New Jersey made it 2-0 at 7:56 of the second. Jacob Josefson, in the lineup after being scratched the past six games, carried the puck along the right-side boards before feeding Cammalleri for a low shot to the far post.
The Devils took three minor penalties in the second period, but held Carolina to five shots.
"If you start getting frustrated and you start thinking it's going to be easy, it's not," Hurricanes coach Bill Peters said. "Penalty killers are hard-working people. Especially in the National Hockey League, lots of guys make their living doing that. So if you're going to have a good power play, you have to exceed their work ethic and you have to execute."
Cammalleri pushed the lead to 3-0 at 8:30 of the third period after Bennett left a perfect drop that his linemate sent over Lack's glove.
Andrej Nestrasil cut the lead to 3-1 at 13:01 of the third. He gathered the rebound of Noah Hanifin's wide shot and pounded it in at the left post. Jordan Staal, playing in his 700th NHL game, had the secondary assist.

Andy Greene scored shorthanded into an empty net with 54 seconds remaining to seal the win.
Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk left the game in the third period and did not return.

Goal of the game

On New Jersey's first goal, Zajac not only made a crisp pass across the slot for the setup, but he did a fine job holding the puck long enough to let Hanifin slide out of the way. Cammalleri went to his left knee to bury the shot inside the post.
"We were able to have a little 2-on-1," Zajac said. "That's where Cammalleri is good at finding those spots and getting to holes and making himself available."

Save of the game

Midway through the third period, Kinkaid made a sprawling save, getting his right pad on a shot as Nestrasil swept across the top of the crease.
"Keith's a gamer," Zajac said. "He can step in in a lot of situations and he's ready to play. He always gives us the effort and the chance to win, and tonight he was incredible for us."

Unsung moment of the game

New Jersey's three second-period penalty kills were crucial. The Devils penalty killers didn't allow the Hurricanes to pursue many rebounds. Greene led the Devils with 5:14 of shorthanded ice time.

Highlight of the game

Cammalleri's third goal helped assure the outcome, but it was also perfectly executed. Bennett gained the offensive zone with speed, backed off defenseman Ryan Murphy and left a drop pass for Cammalleri. John Moore's long outlet pass started the play.

They said it

"The guys did a good job of keeping them to the outside and blocking them when they needed too, and taking away their second chances. It makes my life a lot easier if I see the puck." -- Devils goaltender Keith Kinkaid
"I didn't think my last two games were as good. A few of us in the lineup tonight, we needed to do something to help the team win, and it doesn't always show up on the scoreboard. Look at guys like Palmieri, the way he battle and blocked shots and hit tonight."-- Devils forward Michael Cammalleri
"There were definitely a few plays for myself I wanted back. I think everyone was just a step behind, legs-wise. It made it difficult for us to create more and play the way we want to play." -- Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal

Need to know

Kinkaid improved to 4-1-0 against the Hurricanes. ... Cammalleri has 10 goals and 18 points in 21 games against Carolina. ...The Devils were playing their first game of the season against a Metropolitan Division opponent.

What's next

Devils: Host the Hurricanes on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; FS-CR, MSG+, NHL.TV)
Hurricanes: At the Devils on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; FS-CR, MSG+, NHL.TV)