Aho scores in double OT as Hurricanes eliminate Devils from playoffs in five games
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sebastian Aho hammered a one-timer past Jacob Markstrom at 4:17 of the second overtime period to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New Jersey Devils 5-4 on Tuesday night to clinch their first-round NHL playoff series in five games.
Aho's goal off a feed from Shayne Gostisbehere came with the Hurricanes on a four-minute power play on a double-minor high-sticking penalty by Dawson Mercer that sent Jesperi Kotkaniemi skating off to the tunnel with a towel to his face. Aho provided the capper, the only lead the Hurricanes would have in a wild game that pushed them into the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
They'll next play the winner of the Montreal-Washington series, with the Capitals leading 3-1 in that one.
The Devils jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes, only to see Carolina erupt for four goals in a chaos-filled second period to level the game. But things settled down into a tough grinding finish for the third period and extra periods, capped ultimately by Aho's second goal of the night.
Aho also had the goal that tied it 4-4 with 8:33 left in the second period with the Hurricanes holding a two-man advantage.
Taylor Hall, Jackson Blake and Andrei Svechnikov also scored for Carolina, which is one of four teams in the playoffs for at least seven straight years. But the Hurricanes are the only one of that group to win at least one post-season series each time.
It also marked the second time in three seasons that the Hurricanes had eliminated the Devils in a five-game series that ended with a sudden-death goal in Raleigh. The other came in the second round in 2023.
Mercer, Timo Meier and Stefan Noesen scored during New Jersey's game-opening flurry, then Nico Hischier added a second-period goal for a 4-3 lead after Carolina's rampaging comeback.
Markstrom finished with 48 saves for the Devils, operating as a one-man survival raft in the first overtime as Carolina put shot after shot on the net with a chance to advance riding on each one — including Carolina's Seth Jarvis ringing the left post with about 4 1/2 minutes left in the first OT.
Carolina finished with a 34-12 edge in shots after the second period to put Markstrom under constant duress. He made 37 consecutive saves between Aho's tying and winning goals.
Pyotr Kochetkov finished with 31 saves in his first start of the post-season for Carolina.
___
AP NHL playoffs:
https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup
and
https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
31 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Women's hockey is on the rise in Pacific Northwest, with young girls excited about PWHL's arrival
SEATTLE — Elly Garcia-Dudek can't help but gaze out toward the ice during hockey practices at the Kraken Community Iceplex. The 12-year-old Garcia-Dudek is a big fan of women's national team stars like Hilary Knight, who starred for the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women's Hockey League last season. Pretty soon, Garcia-Dudek — who started playing through the Seattle Kraken's Learn to Play program — won't have to look across the country for role models like Knight.
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Nationals' bat-retrieving dog Bruce gets call up to majors from Triple-A, set for MLB debut Saturday
A ballpark-tested Golden Retriever named Bruce is going to the major leagues to scoop up bats on baseball's biggest stage for the Washington Nationals after the team said he worked his tail off in the minors. Yes, Bruce is the team's 'Top Paw-spect' at 21 months old — in people years. The Nationals shared the wonderful news Tuesday that Bruce the Bat Dog has been called up, set to make his major league debut Saturday at home against the Miami Marlins — his promotion perfectly timed for Pups in the Park day at Nationals Park. Bruce was credited by the organization's front office for 'working your tail off' to earn this opportunity. The Nats said Bruce owns a 1.000 retrieving average in three games for Rochester this year and will make a fourth start in Rochester on Friday before traveling to Washington. The club unveiled an announcement for the dog's special day featuring three photos of Bruce under 'Welcome to The Show Bruce the Bat Dog' — and stated 'no rules that say a dog can't play baseball.' Triple-A manager Matthew LeCroy even brought the pooch into his office to give him the great news, and the Nationals posted video of the moment on their social media. 'Hey, I got some news for you, I think you're going to like it,' LeCroy said. 'You know last year you got called up to Triple-A, did a really nice job but we still thought we needed some work down at the lower levels. ... You did a nice job coming back to Triple-A this year, but I'm excited to tell you the front office, the GM, the president, the owners, they're excited to invite you to Nats Park for your call up to the major leagues on June 14.' More kind wishes poured in, and one fan called the move 'pawsome.' The Nationals have never seen him turn down signing a 'pawtograph.' 'Our fans and front office are always excited to see our players get promoted to the Nationals, but Bruce's promotion is a historic call-up to the big leagues that he richly deserves,' Rochester Red Wings General Manager Dan Mason said. 'Nobody makes people smile more than Bruce, and I'm sure he'll do a WOOFtastic job for the Nats! He has proven himself to be ready for the show in a very short time and has earned the phenom status that has been bestowed upon him. He'll put on a doggone great show for Nats fans on June 14.' ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Nationals' bat-retrieving dog Bruce gets call up to majors from Triple-A, set for MLB debut Saturday
A ballpark-tested Golden Retriever named Bruce is going to the major leagues to scoop up bats on baseball's biggest stage for the Washington Nationals after the team said he worked his tail off in the minors. Yes, Bruce is the team's 'Top Paw-spect' at 21 months old — in people years. The Nationals shared the wonderful news Tuesday that Bruce the Bat Dog has been called up, set to make his major league debut Saturday at home against the Miami Marlins — his promotion perfectly timed for Pups in the Park day at Nationals Park. Bruce was credited by the organization's front office for 'working your tail off' to earn this opportunity. The Nats said Bruce owns a 1.000 retrieving average in three games for Rochester this year and will make a fourth start in Rochester on Friday before traveling to Washington. The club unveiled an announcement for the dog's special day featuring three photos of Bruce under 'Welcome to The Show Bruce the Bat Dog' — and stated 'no rules that say a dog can't play baseball.' Triple-A manager Matthew LeCroy even brought the pooch into his office to give him the great news, and the Nationals posted video of the moment on their social media. 'Hey, I got some news for you, I think you're going to like it,' LeCroy said. 'You know last year you got called up to Triple-A, did a really nice job but we still thought we needed some work down at the lower levels. ... You did a nice job coming back to Triple-A this year, but I'm excited to tell you the front office, the GM, the president, the owners, they're excited to invite you to Nats Park for your call up to the major leagues on June 14.' More kind wishes poured in, and one fan called the move 'pawsome.' The Nationals have never seen him turn down signing a 'pawtograph.' 'Our fans and front office are always excited to see our players get promoted to the Nationals, but Bruce's promotion is a historic call-up to the big leagues that he richly deserves,' Rochester Red Wings General Manager Dan Mason said. 'Nobody makes people smile more than Bruce, and I'm sure he'll do a WOOFtastic job for the Nats! He has proven himself to be ready for the show in a very short time and has earned the phenom status that has been bestowed upon him. He'll put on a doggone great show for Nats fans on June 14.' ___ AP MLB:
