Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 18: Kotkaniemi’s two goals kick off another blowout win for Canes in Game 2

A lot was made about the dominant performance from the Carolina Hurricanes in their 5-1 Game 1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Not just on the scoreboard either, the Canes seemed to have caught the Devils off guard and were owning the puck all night, with the Devils only ever standing a chance once they took a 3-0 lead and score effects took over. The biggest question going into Game 2 was how the Devils would respond.

The Devils did get a boost to the lineup with the return of Timo Meier from his injury, hoping that it would provide them with more finishing talent to give them an edge over the injured Canes. But Carolina picked up right where they left off in Game 1, and controlled the puck in the first period, although not quite to the extent of Game 1’s first frame. At even strength, they had the advantage in shot attempts at 15-6, scoring chances at 6-3, and expected goals at 0.72-0.23.

And in the second period, the dam burst open. Jesperi Kotkaniemi opened the scoring just 1:35 into the second, and then followed it up with another one at the 3:58 mark, and it was already 2-0 Canes. The Devils held it steady for a while after that, but with 2:35 left, Jordan Staal made it 3-0, and then after a disallowed goal almost made it 4-0, Martin Necas did it anyways, capitalizing on a scrambling Akira Schmid to make it 4-0 for sure. That would be Schmid’s night as well, getting pulled in his second straight game after allowing four goals on 25 shots.

Much like Game 1, the Devils put a little bit of life back into the game. Once again, it was their fourth line getting the goal, as Miles Wood got one back for the Devils early in the third. But the Canes kept in command after that, not allowing anything else and then midway through the period scoring two more goals in less than a minute from Jordan Martinook and Stefan Noesen. Along with Kotkaniemi’s two goals, Martinook, Jack Drury, and Shayne Gostisbehere contributed two points in the win, and Andersen was steady again stopping 28 of the 29 shots he faced.