Hurricanes Beat Devils to Take Over 1st Place in NHL Metropolitan Division

The New Jersey Devils got off to a roaring start to the 2022-23 NHL season, losing just four times in their first 23 games. The Devils are looking for their first winning season and playoff appearance in five years, so a start like that was unexpected. It was probably inevitable that there would be some bumps in the road back to respectability, and New Jersey is encountering one now.

The Carolina Hurricanes hosted the Devils December 20th in a battle for sole possession of first place in the Metropolitan Division. Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored just 20 seconds into the game and three other skaters scored goals for the Hurricanes as Carolina beat New Jersey 4-1. Carolina goalie Pyotr Kochetkov had 37 saves. He’s now 9-1-4 with a 2.01 goals against average.

The Hurricanes (20-6-6, 46 points) have won six in a row and are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games. The Devils (21-9-2, 44 points) have lost six in a row. This was the first of four games between the two teams; New Jersey will host Carolina on New Year’s Day, with another game in Raleigh on January 10th. The final game will be in Newark on March 12th.