Meier Scores Lone Goal, Svechnikov Hat Trick

 

Photo: Andrew MacLean

The Devils suffered a tough home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Running into a divisional rival like Carolina, as they were starting to build momentum, was a challenge. The Devils had just bounced back from a rough patch, but they saw their mini-winning streak come to a screeching halt, falling 4-1 to the Hurricanes. New Jersey struggled to contain a red-hot Andrei Svechnikov, who led the Hurricanes to their second straight victory with a dominant hat-trick performance. Timo Meier managed to score for the Devils, but it unfortunately wasn't enough to overcome Carolina's disciplined defensive play. The Devils head out on the road for a four-game road trip, making their first stop in Calgary in hopes of coming back after this loss at home, while the Hurricanes will be at home to host the Buffalo Sabres.

Carolina Hurricanes Lineup:

Svechnikov - Aho - Jarvis

Hall - Stankoven - Blake

Ehlers - Staal - Martinook

Robinson - Jankowski - Kotkaniemi

Slavin - Chatfield

Miller - Walker

Nikishin - Nystrom

Andersen

New Jersey Devils Lineup:

Dadonov - Hughes - Bratt

Meier - Hischier - Mercer

Gritsyuk - Glass - Brown

Cotter - Glendening - Lammikko

Hughes - Pesce

Siegenthaler - Kovacevic

Dillon - Hamilton

Markstrom

Allen

After a scoreless first 20, Luke Hughes' pass was intercepted by Sebastian Aho, and Andrei Svechnikov took a back pass from Aho, then skated down the slot before snapping a shot past Jacob Markstrom to put Carolina ahead 1-0 at 6:48 of the second period. It was his 14th goal of the season. Only 57 seconds later, he made it 2-0 from the right face-off circle with a snap shot, beating Markstrom between the pads for his 15th.

Timo Meier pulled New Jersey within 2-1 early into the third period at 15:33, picking up his 13th goal of the season. His first shot was knocked down, and he got a hold of the puck again, then fired from the top of the left face-off circle on the power play. Not long after the Devils' goal at 11:27, Jackson Blake scored his 15th goal of the season, making it 3-1 for Carolina on a delayed penalty call, scoring on a backhand after receiving a pass from Nikolaj Ehlers in the slot, who had gotten the puck from K'Andre Miller while skating through the neutral zone into New Jersey's end. With little time on the clock in the final frame, Svechnikov found the back of the net for the third time to complete his hat trick at 4:08 when he struck from the bottom of the left circle, scoring on a snap shot for the 4-1 final.

Jacob Markstrom on the performance, the Hurricanes, and the first period: "We're playing good, we're controlling the game, and then, you know, they break the ice and get the first one... They took over after that, and got a little bit more chances. That's pretty much the game there." - "We're doing it to ourselves, I feel like. That's a tough way to lose when we feel like we're doing the right things, and then small mistakes, and it's in the back of our net."

Notes:

- Jacob Markstrom made a total of 29 saves for New Jersey.

- The Devils are 24-22-2.

- Jesper Bratt skated in his 600th NHL career game.

- With his goal for the Devils, Timo Meier scored his 65th career power-play goal to bring New Jersey within one. In NHL history, he has more power-play goals than any Swiss forward and the second-most among players from his country, behind Roman Josi (68).

- Frederik Andersen made a total of 28 saves for Carolina.

- The Hurricanes are 30-15-4, have won two straight, and are 6-1-1 in their past eight games.

- Carolina is first in the Metropolitan Division, and is 3-0-0 against the Devils this season.

- Sebastian Aho had a three-point night, picking up three assists. He had the primary assist on all three of Andrei Svechnikov's goals.

- With Svechnikov's two goals 57 seconds apart, which is the second time this season so far where he's scored twice under a minute (54 on Nov. 14, 2025). That's a first in Hurricanes team history, and it's the fourth time in team history a player has scored twice in under a minute more than once in a single campaign. Others: Pat Verbeek (2x in 1990-91), Ron Francis (2x in 1985-86), and Blaine Stoughton (2x in 1983-84).

- Svechnikov's hat trick against New Jersey is the fourth hat trick of his career. He helped the Hurricanes record a hat trick in consecutive games for the fifth time in Hurricanes/Whalers history. The other instances: March 6-7, 2009, Feb. 20-21, 1993, Feb. 12-13, 1983, and Jan. 28-30, 1980. With this hat trick, he also tied for the ninth most in Hurricanes/Whalers franchise history. ...His third goal of the night was also his 30th career game-winning goal, surpassing Jordan Staal, Blaine Stoughton, and current head coach Rod Brind'Amour for sole possession of seventh most in franchise history.