Devils' offense explodes, scores 8 goals to win first game in series with Hurricanes

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The New Jersey Devils headed back to home ice in their second-round series with the Carolina Hurricanes knowing they needed to score more than the two combined goals they had in Games 1 and 2 in Raleigh.

Home ice proved to be where the Devils' offense remains hot.

New Jersey defeated Carolina in Game 3 on Sunday after exploding for eight goals compared to the Hurricanes' four in what felt like a must-win game for them.

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Damon Severson of the New Jersey Devils celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of Game 3 in the second round of the playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes at Prudential Center on May 7, 2023, in Newark, New Jersey. (Elsa/Getty Images)

It started with three unanswered scores in the first period, one that Devils fans at Prudential Center went crazy over. 

Timo Meier finally got his first Stanley Cup playoff goal after a perfect pass between the legs by Jack Hughes behind the Carolina net saw Meier wrap the puck around to the front and push it past Freddie Anderson.

Hughes then found the back of the net after an odd-man rush by the Devils halfway through the period that resulted in a top-shelf snipe from his left-handed stick. It was Hughes’ fourth of the playoffs.

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And just minutes later on a short-handed opportunity, Michael McLeod once again found himself with a goal on assists from captain Nico Hischier and John Marino. He scored short-handed in Game 7 against the New York Rangers as well.

That set the tone for this game and went even further when