Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals between the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes brought everything that was expected, fierce hitting, physical play, and a game full of excitement—the latter of which is an understatement to say the least.
Canes’ star center Eric Staal opened the scoring off a deflection from teammate Dennis Seidenberg with about 12 minutes left in the first period.
A minute later, Carolina winger Ryan Bayda, with an assist from Scott Walker, ripped a shot past Brodeur and put the Canes up 2–0.
Carolina dominated the first period, out-shooting the Devils 15–7.
The Devils’ lack of offensive pressure would catch up to them with about 13 minutes remaining in the second period. Following a four-on-four, the Canes pushed the puck down the length of the ice and created traffic in front of the Devils net.
Amid the melee, Devils defenseman Niclas Havelid was pushed into Brodeur, causing the Jersey netminder to fall into the net. Carolina winger Chad LaRose took advantage and tossed the puck past a sprawling Brodeur. This made the score 3–0 in favor of Carolina.
The Devils would finally get a goal of their own in the waning seconds of the period as Devils winger Brian Gionta took a crisp pass from Mike Mottau. Gionta skated down the left side where he was all alone, one-on-one with Canes goalie Cam Ward. Gionta juked Ward and put a bullet past his right side, cutting the score to 3–1.
Starting the third period, the Devils came out on fire. Building on the momentum carried over from Gionta’s late second period goal, the Devils put the heat on Ward, just as Carolina had done the previous two periods against Marty Brodeur.
The Devils effort finally paid off as veteran winger Brendan Shannahan skated into position in front of the Hurricanes net and put a rebound from teammate Brian Gionta past Ward, getting the Devils within one.
The Devils offensive onslaught wasn’t done. Minutes later, David Clarkson took a rebounded shot from Bobby Holik and put the puck past Ward as he fell forward in an attempt to cover it up. That tied the game at 3–3 and silenced the crowd at the RBC Center.
The stage was set for an unbelievable finished. Unfortunately, the finish would be tainted and come courtesy of a critically blown call by the referees.
At the very end of the game, Carolina mounting an offensive push, the Devils failed to clear the zone.
Carolina defenseman Jussi Jokinen bumped into Brodeur just as teammate Dennis Seidenberg let off a slap shot from the blue line. With Jokinen bumping into Brodeur, the Devils netminder claimed he didn’t have time to reset himself and missed the shot coming straight toward his net as it sailed past his left skate.
What should have been interference resulted in an incredible Carolina goal with 0.2 seconds remaining in the third period.
As the game concluded on the controversial play and the home arena whipped into a frenzy, an irate Brodeur uncharacteristically exploded at the referees and smashed his stick into the ice in frustration.
The Devils were outshot 46–29 but really dominated the third period and made up for their lack offense in the first two periods.
The series now returns to New Jersey for Game 5 on Thursday tied 2–2. Expect the Devils to come out on fire after this heartbreaking loss.
Canes’ star center Eric Staal opened the scoring off a deflection from teammate Dennis Seidenberg with about 12 minutes left in the first period.
A minute later, Carolina winger Ryan Bayda, with an assist from Scott Walker, ripped a shot past Brodeur and put the Canes up 2–0.
Carolina dominated the first period, out-shooting the Devils 15–7.
The Devils’ lack of offensive pressure would catch up to them with about 13 minutes remaining in the second period. Following a four-on-four, the Canes pushed the puck down the length of the ice and created traffic in front of the Devils net.
Amid the melee, Devils defenseman Niclas Havelid was pushed into Brodeur, causing the Jersey netminder to fall into the net. Carolina winger Chad LaRose took advantage and tossed the puck past a sprawling Brodeur. This made the score 3–0 in favor of Carolina.
Devils Resurgent
The Devils would finally get a goal of their own in the waning seconds of the period as Devils winger Brian Gionta took a crisp pass from Mike Mottau. Gionta skated down the left side where he was all alone, one-on-one with Canes goalie Cam Ward. Gionta juked Ward and put a bullet past his right side, cutting the score to 3–1.
Starting the third period, the Devils came out on fire. Building on the momentum carried over from Gionta’s late second period goal, the Devils put the heat on Ward, just as Carolina had done the previous two periods against Marty Brodeur.
The Devils effort finally paid off as veteran winger Brendan Shannahan skated into position in front of the Hurricanes net and put a rebound from teammate Brian Gionta past Ward, getting the Devils within one.
The Devils offensive onslaught wasn’t done. Minutes later, David Clarkson took a rebounded shot from Bobby Holik and put the puck past Ward as he fell forward in an attempt to cover it up. That tied the game at 3–3 and silenced the crowd at the RBC Center.
Missed Call…Devils Lose
The stage was set for an unbelievable finished. Unfortunately, the finish would be tainted and come courtesy of a critically blown call by the referees.
At the very end of the game, Carolina mounting an offensive push, the Devils failed to clear the zone.
Carolina defenseman Jussi Jokinen bumped into Brodeur just as teammate Dennis Seidenberg let off a slap shot from the blue line. With Jokinen bumping into Brodeur, the Devils netminder claimed he didn’t have time to reset himself and missed the shot coming straight toward his net as it sailed past his left skate.
What should have been interference resulted in an incredible Carolina goal with 0.2 seconds remaining in the third period.
As the game concluded on the controversial play and the home arena whipped into a frenzy, an irate Brodeur uncharacteristically exploded at the referees and smashed his stick into the ice in frustration.
The Devils were outshot 46–29 but really dominated the third period and made up for their lack offense in the first two periods.
The series now returns to New Jersey for Game 5 on Thursday tied 2–2. Expect the Devils to come out on fire after this heartbreaking loss.
