Eric Robinson of the Carolina Hurricanes had a scoring chance stopped by New Jersey Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom in the third period of Game 2 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff matchup on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
The Carolina Hurricanes pulled off a solid 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night, pushing them ahead 2-0 in their first-round NHL playoff series. Jordan Martinook turned the tide for the Hurricanes with a crucial shorthanded goal in the second period, giving Carolina a lead they would never give up.
Shayne Gostisbehere added another goal in the same period, helping build momentum. In the final minute, Seth Jarvis sealed the win with a clean breakaway goal into an empty net. Though Carolina faced more resistance from the Devils than in Game 1, their steady defence and goaltending made the difference.
Goaltender Frederik Andersen was a wall, stopping 25 shots and shutting out the Devils for the last 56 minutes of the game. His highlight moment came with just six minutes left when he blocked a close-range shot by Nathan Bastian.
The Devils' only goal came from Jesper Bratt, and goalie Jacob Markstrom managed 25 saves, but the team couldn’t break through after their early score.
Leafs Edge Senators in Overtime Thriller
In Toronto, Max Domi stepped up in overtime, scoring just over three minutes into the extra frame to give the Maple Leafs a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. That goal pushed Toronto to a 2-0 lead in their own playoff series.
Toronto had started strong, taking a 2-0 lead thanks to John Tavares and Morgan Rielly. Tavares also picked up an assist, showcasing veteran poise. But Ottawa clawed its way back with goals from Brady Tkachuk and Adam Gaudette, sending the game into OT. Toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz held the line with 26 saves, while Ottawa's Linus Ullmark stopped 18 shots.
Panthers Dominate Lightning in Stanley Cup Return
In Tampa, Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk made a powerful return from injury, netting two power-play goals and an assist in a 6-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. This marked Florida’s first step in defending its Stanley Cup title.
The Panthers looked sharp, with Nate Schmidt scoring twice and teammates Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart each notching a goal and an assist. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 20 saves to keep Tampa at bay.
The Lightning, who got goals from Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point, couldn’t keep pace. Starting goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy made only 10 saves. Tampa also lost center Anthony Cirelli midway through the game, with no update on his status. Game 2 will be played on Thursday.
Wild Rally Past Golden Knights to Even Series
Over in Las Vegas, the Minnesota Wild turned the tables on the Golden Knights with a 5-2 win, tying the series 1-1. Kirill Kaprizov led the charge with two goals and an assist, marking Minnesota’s first win over Vegas all season.
Matt Boldy also stayed hot, scoring his third goal in two games. Marcus Foligno and Mats Zuccarello chipped in goals too, while goalie Filip Gustavsson made 29 saves.
Vegas, which had taken Game 1 and all regular-season meetings, struggled with turnovers. Goals by Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl weren’t enough, and goalie Adin Hill faced just 17 shots, saving 12.
