Recap: Canes Topped by Devils

NEWARK, N.J. - In the first of what are sure to be four critical divisional meetings down the stretch of the season, the Carolina Hurricanes fell 5-2 to the New Jersey Devils.
Jeff Skinner and Brett Pesce netted goals for Carolina, but New Jersey scored three unanswered goals to take the first game of this season series.
Here are five takeaways from tonight's Moms Trip to New Jersey.

One
The Hurricanes were chasing the game early - a number of icing calls delayed the first media timeout of the game, as the team was being out-shot and hemmed in their own end - but their first power play helped establish some momentum and led to the opening goal. Just nine seconds after the conclusion of the power play, Skinner kicked the puck to his stick and tapped it in for his fourth goal in three games. It was initially ruled no goal due to the kick - referee Tim Peel didn't see Skinner's stick make contact - but a quick review settled the matter and gave the Hurricanes the 1-0 lead, which Skinner had already properly celebrated with fist bumps down the bench.

"We've got to sustain [the momentum]," Skinner said. "We had a couple good shifts, but you've got to stay on them and try to build off the good shifts. I don't think we did that enough."
Sure enough, the Devils tied the game just two minutes later with less than 20 seconds to play in the first period.
"You've got to give them credit," head coach Bill Peters said. "They were quick and on top of us, and I don't think we executed coming out of our zone."
Two
The Devils took a 2-1 lead in the second period, but it took the Canes just a minute to answer back. Pesce patiently walked with the puck and fired a shot through a screen provided by Victor Rask in front to even the score.
"It was a big goal. He played real well," Skinner said. "He did a good job coming down the wall, winning a battle and getting the puck to the net showing some pretty good poise. At that time in the game, it was a pretty big goal for us."

Three
Kyle Palmieri gave the Devils a 3-2 lead late in the second period, a play that was challenged by the Hurricanes for goaltender interference. They might have had a case, too. Nico Hischier was moving across the top of the crease and, in doing so, his skate dragged Darling's stick out of position. Palmieri's shot then squeaked through the exposed five-hole. If Darling's stick isn't interfered with, it's likely in place to deny the shot and play goes on at 2-2.
In the third period, Hischier scored on a 2-on-1 rush to pad the Devils lead to 4-2.
"We didn't manage certain situations very well," Peters said. "The Hischier 2-on-1, we didn't have a forward covering there. There are some things we did to make the game harder than it needed to be. That's the stuff we've got to clean up for tomorrow."
Just 32 seconds later, Stefan Noesen netted his second of the game to make it 5-2, and that was that.
"I think we turned a few too many pucks over in the defensive zone, especially. In the neutral zone we weren't able to get out clean and establish a forecheck," Justin Faulk said. "We were a little slow on a lot of those parts tonight, and they took advantage and made us pay."
"It felt like it was tight out there," Skinner said. "We seemed to have a tough time generating. We weren't playing fast enough, well enough or together enough coming up with speed. As a result we had trouble spending time in their end and generating offense once we got in there."
Four
Though this was a pivotal divisional match-up, the loss doesn't set the Hurricanes back too much. They remain in the second wild card spot, though they now trail the Devils by three points for the top wild card position. Three games remain against New Jersey this season; the two teams meet again in Raleigh on Sunday.
"Everyone knows where we're at and who we're fighting for a spot with. The good thing is we've got a chance to rise to the challenge," Skinner said. "We've got another opportunity tomorrow and a few more games against these guys. It will be a good challenge for us."
"Every game is tighter. Every point seems like it matters a little bit more," Faulk said. "With the position we're in and a lot of the teams we're playing right now, everyone is scratching and clawing trying to get any traction they can to string together some wins and make the jump."
Five
After spending the day in New York City, the moms set up residence in adjoining Prudential Center suites to take in this game. They'll now fly back to Raleigh with their sons (and brother, for Sarah Herrmann, Derek Ryan's sister) for another big divisional tilt on Friday night.

"She was pretty excited about it. The result wasn't great, but the experience was cool," Skinner said. "Any time you get a chance to share something that they helped you achieve, it's always a cool feeling. I think she had a good time."
Up Next
It's back home now for the Hurricanes for a set of three games against Metropolitan Division opponents, beginning Friday night against the New York Islanders.
"We've got another big game tomorrow night against a team that's also fighting for a playoff spot," Faulk said. "We've got to move past this one as fast as possible and try to get a win tomorrow night."