NEWARK, New Jersey (AP) The Carolina Hurricanes are making a late push to get into the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2008-09 and having a lot of fun doing it.
Jeff Skinner scored the go-ahead goal on a breakaway with 10:26 left, Sebastian Aho tallied twice and the surging Hurricanes stretched their point streak to 10 games with a 3-1 victory Saturday night that eliminated the New Jersey Devils from playoff contention for the fifth straight year.
”I kind of feel like the last 10 have been must-win for us,” goaltender Eddie Lack said after making 26 saves. ”I feel like we just keep battling here and we’ll just see where we end up. Obviously, we’re really excited about this stretch we are on, and it is so much more fun to play now when we have a chance and we’re in it and battling.”
Until a couple of weeks ago, the Hurricanes looked like a team that would be irrelevant during the final weeks of the season. Their 7-0-3 run has put them five points out of a playoff spot with nine games left in the regular season.
”Guys are playing well, guys are dialed in,” Carolina coach Bill Peters said. ”You have to continue to keep pace around the league. Everyone seems to find a way to win so you have to keep pace, and hopefully, somebody falters.”
Travis Zajac scored for the Devils, who have not made the postseason since going to the 2012 Stanley Cup final. Cory Schneider stopped 25 shots for New Jersey, which is 2-12-2 in its last 16 games.
Skinner’s goal was his 30th of the season and seventh in the last five games. He poked the puck past Devils defenseman Andy Greene at the left point and skated in alone on Schneider.
”When you are going like this you also have to be successful as a team and as a line and hopefully we can keep that going,” Skinner said.
Aho made it 3-1 with his 23rd goal on a shot from low in the left circle with 3:14 to play.
The Devils tied it 1-all with 2:57 left in the second period after a turnover by the Hurricanes at the New Jersey blue line. Derek Ryan failed to handle a cross-ice pass and Taylor Hall led a counterattack. He skated the puck into the Carolina zone and found Zajac alone between the circles for his 14th goal.
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