Mercer, Devils Complete Comeback to Top Canes | GAME STORY

The Devils recorded their NHL-best fifth multi-goal comeback of the season after flipping a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 win against Carolina at PNC Arena Tuesday night.
Dawson Mercer scored twice while Jesper Boqvist, Jonas Siegenthaler and Nico Hischier scored.
Carolina received goals from Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Max Pacioretty and Sebastian Aho.
"That was a big win for us to be down in the game and make a comeback against a good defensive team like that," Mercer said. "It shows a lot of us. You're never out of the game. Those points are massive for us right now. It's great to walk away with those."
With the victory, the Devils pulled within two points of Carolina (57-55) for first place in the Metro Division.
"They're all four-point games when you're playing a team that's ahead of you," said head coach Lindy Ruff. "We were able to close the gap."

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The Devils continue their season-long five-game road trip with a stop in Anaheim Friday night. Puck drop is 10:08 p.m. ET.
Here are some observations from the game...
- Mercer picked up his first-career multi-goal game (2) and tied a career-high with three points. His second goal will be a top-notch highlight on the season. He carried the puck over the blue line, blew by defenseman Dylan Coghlan, pulled the puck around the outstretched pad of Pyotr Kochetkov and snapped the puck in.

"I had speed and knew the D was flat footed. I drove it wide," Mercer said. "Any time a goalie freezes you want to take it across. I was happy I got that shot off before I fell over too much. I was pretty happy with that goal."

- The Hurricanes appeared to have full control of the game after Aho's goal at 17:34 of the secod period gave Carolina a 3-1 lead. The Devils turned things around in an 18-second span in the final minute of the second frame to shock the home crowd.

Mercer carried the puck from below the goal line into the crease. His initial shot was stopped, but he poked his own rebound through Kochetkov's five-hole for his first of the night. Then 18 seconds later Mercer fed Boqvist, who cut around the defender to the net and slid the puck through the five-hole. And just like that, instead of 3-1, both teams went to the intermission with three goals apiece.

"The puck got away from me," Mercer said. "I ended up chasing it down, got in the corner and was like, 'I'm taking this puck to the net.' I saw a lane. I took there and got a nice bounce. That was a big momentum thing for us going in after the second period to start off the third."

- The Devils united a trio of Boqvist, Mercer and Michael McLeod. They combined for seven points in the contest: Boqvist (1g-1a), Mercer (2g-1a), McLeod (2a).

"We put them together by accident but they really got us going," Ruff said. "They generated some good opportunities and took advantage of some really simple plays, getting it in behind the defense and taking it to the net. You take it to the net and a lot of times good things will happen."

- Siegenthaler picked up his first goal in 32 games with a squeaker of a tally. The Swiss-Thai defenseman had the puck along the goal line in the offensive zone with no support. The rest of the Devils were going for a line change on the bench. So, Siegenthaler just threw the puck toward the net on a prayer and his prayer was answered. The puck hit the pad of goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov's pad, which wasn't flush to the post, and slid just over the goal line. It took a lengthy video review, but the goal was confirmed.

"I saw it when I was skating behind the net. I saw the puck in the net," Siegenthaler said. "I was probably the only one who saw it. Thank god they found a good angle for the video.

"I was concerned. They showed some replays on the jumbotron but it wasn't a good angle. You couldn't see anything. Luckily they found a good angle on the iPad and it was a good goal."

- The Devils ended some long goal droughts in the game. Siegenthaler broke a 31-game goalless drought. Boqvist scored his first after going 19 games without. And Mercer a goal after going 12 contests without scoring.

"It's been too long," Boqvist said. "I've had chances and stuff. It's been tough but it's nice to get one."

- Captain Nico Hischier picked up an empty-net goal (awarded) and assist to record a career-high eight-game scoring streak for 11 points (6g-5a). - The Hurricanes have taken advantage of the Devils' man-advantage this season. Carolina scored two shorthanded goals in this contest, and four overall on the season. Kotkaniemi and Aho picked up the shorties in this contest. Tuevo Teravainen and Aho had shorthanded goals in previous matchups.

"Disappointed with giving up two shorthanded goals for sure," Ruff said. "The answer is we fought back and end up scoring our own two in the last minute that they're probably not happy with."