Stanley Cup playoffs Day 18: Another blowout win for Canes in Game 2

Much was made about the Carolina Hurricanes' dominant performance in their 5-1 Game 1 win over the New Jersey Devils to open the second round of the NHL playoffs. Not just on the scoreboard, either. The Canes seemed to have caught the Devils off guard and owned the puck all night, with New Jersey only standing out after they went down by multiple goals. The biggest question going into Game 2 was how the Devils would respond.

The Devils did get a boost to the lineup with the return of Timo Meier from his injury, hoping that it would provide them with more finishing talent over the injured Canes. But Carolina picked up right where it left off in Game 1 and controlled the puck in the first period -- although not quite to the extent that they did in Game 1’s first frame. At even strength, the Hurricanes had the advantage in shot attempts at 15-6, scoring chances at 6-3 and expected goals at 0.72-0.23.

And in the second period, the dam burst. Jesperi Kotkaniemi opened the scoring just 1:35 into the second and then followed it up with another goal at the 3:58 mark. While tthe Devils held it steady down 2-0 for a stretch, with 2:35 remaining before second intermission, Jordan Staal pushed Carolina to a 3-0 advantage. Martin Necas would subsequently put in another goal on a scrambling Akira Schmid to make it 4-0. That would be it for Schmid’s night, as well. He was pulled in his second straight game after allowing four goals on 25 shots.