Takeaways: Andersen injured as Hurricanes push Devils to brink of elimination
Just one win stands between the Carolina Hurricanes and a ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs’ second round.
Just one win stands between the Carolina Hurricanes and a ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs’ second round.
After watching the New Jersey Devils claw their way to their first win of this series last time out — Sheldon Keefe’s squad winning Game 3 in double overtime — the Canes took care of business in Game 4, piecing together a convincing 5-2 win to push Jersey to the brink of elimination.
It started early for the Canes in this one — and that was precisely the plan. Asked pre-game by the TNT broadcast crew what his club needed to do to get back in the win column on Sunday afternoon, veteran forward Jordan Martinook pointed to the need for a quick start.
“I think we’ve got to get started off better. If you look at Game 2 and 3, I didn’t like our start,” Martinook had said. “We’ve got to put our game on them — you’ve seen when we’re rolling and we’re going after them, they’re struggling to hang with us. So, we’ve got to get back to that.”
The Devils had drawn first blood in each of the two previous tilts, forcing an eventual comeback from Rod Brind’Amour’s squad. In Game 4, it looked like it might swing that way again, the Devils throwing a momentary flurry at Frederik Andersen off the opening draw.
But this time, before a minute had expired off the clock, it was the Canes who got the better of the early momentum swings, as Andrei Svechnikov struck first with a shot from the top of the right circle.
The 25-year-old — who was moved up to the top line Sunday after starting Game 3 further down the lineup — kept the Canes starting strong a period later too, deflecting home a Seth Jarvis shot to give Carolina a goal in the opening minute of Period 2 as well. Svechnikov tallied once more late in the third, burying an empty netter to complete the hat trick.
In doing so, he passed his head coach, Brind’Amour, on the Canes’ all-time playoff goals list, the Game 4 hat trick moving Svechnikov up to a tie for second place, with 19.
/* if ( "1" == true && 'undefined' !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) { var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}}; adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6372007137112&cmsid=384', so, permalink); } else { adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6372007137112&cmsid=384"; } */ adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6372007137112&cmsid=384"; var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes("cust_params"); var queryString=''; if(adServerUrl_result){ var gettheDUFI = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem("theRED_loc");
if(gettheDUFI){ queryString += "dufiid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; queryString += "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; var ppid = "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; }
var DUFI_IP = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem("DUFI_IP");
if(DUFI_IP){ queryString += "dufiip=" + DUFI_IP + '&'; }
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + 'cust_params=' + encodeURIComponent(queryString) ); }
$el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") );
$( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-240484" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6372007137112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", adserverurl: adServerUrl, section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/6372007137112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/hurricanes-svechnikov-dazzles-for-second-career-playoff-hat-trick/" }); });
Anderson leaves Game 4 with apparent injury after netfront collision
While it all came up Canes on the offensive side of the game, the club suffered a hefty setback on the other side of the sheet, as netminder Frederik Andersen was forced to leave Game 4 with an injury after a collision midway through the tilt.
Four minutes into the second period, the veteran goaltender was barrelled over by New Jersey’s Timo Meier, who appeared to be bumped into the cage by Svechnikov. Andersen looked to be in discomfort immediately after the play, and remained down for some time, before eventually making his way to his feet and skating off the ice. Backup Pyotr Kochetkov came in and played out the final 35 minutes of the night.
It’s a worrying development for a Canes side that’s seen its star ‘tender miss plenty of time with injury since joining the club in 2021. The 35-year-old was sidelined for a lengthy stretch this season, missing 38 games between October and January with a knee injury, before returning to the fray in the new year.
Through the first three games of this first-round bout, though, he’d been solid, allowing five goals on 87 shots (good for a .943 save percentage) coming into Game 4. Andersen allowed one goal on seven shots Sunday before Kotchetkov took over — the No. 2 allowed one goal on 15 shots, but ultimately guided Carolina to the win.
Brind’Amour said post-game that Andersen will be evaluated Monday back in Raleigh, before the series resumes on Tuesday night.
Kotchetkov, who may be relied upon heavily moving forward if Andersen can’t go, has six games of playoff experience under his belt, spread over three seasons in Carolina. The backup has a career .863 save percentage over that span, and one win to his name. He played a career-high 47 games for the Canes in 2024-25 during Andersen’s absence, putting up a .897 during the regular season.
/* if ( "1" == true && 'undefined' !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) { var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}}; adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6372009616112&cmsid=384', so, permalink); } else { adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6372009616112&cmsid=384"; } */ adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6372009616112&cmsid=384"; var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes("cust_params"); var queryString=''; if(adServerUrl_result){ var gettheDUFI = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem("theRED_loc");
if(gettheDUFI){ queryString += "dufiid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; queryString += "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; var ppid = "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; }
var DUFI_IP = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem("DUFI_IP");
if(DUFI_IP){ queryString += "dufiip=" + DUFI_IP + '&'; }
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + 'cust_params=' + encodeURIComponent(queryString) ); }
$el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") );
$( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-226587" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6372009616112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", adserverurl: adServerUrl, section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/6372009616112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/brindamour-andersen-exit-not-a-good-sign-evaluation-will-be-monday/" }); });
Hischier leads way again, but Devils still looking for more from their best
Much has been said about whether this Devils offence has enough to take down Carolina without star pivot Jack Hughes in the mix. Through four games, those concerns remain, New Jersey having scored more than two goals just once in this series, while giving up at least three goals in three of four tilts.
The Devils have seen glimpses of their best over the course of the matchup. In Game 1, captain Nico Hischier (who led the club in goals in 2024-25) and Jesper Bratt (who led the team in points) combined for New Jersey’s only tally. In Game 2, Bratt got on the board with a goal himself. In Game 3, the Devils’ only win, the pair put points on the board again, while Dawson Mercer and Simon Nemec chipped in, too.
Here in Game 4, it was more of the same — a few isolated moments of quality from some of the Devils’ top talents, but not enough sustained attacking pressure from the group as a whole.
Hischier got on the board once again to try to spark something for his club, potting his third of the series. Meanwhile, it was a more noticeable outing for Timo Meier, who the Devils surely need more from if they’re to get back into this series.
The former San Jose Shark factored into one of the most consequential plays of the series, going hard to the net and finding himself pushed into Andersen by Svechnikov, sending the netminder to the locker room. Meier then stung Kotchetkov with a goal soon after the backup came into the game cold, the winger taking the puck off an offensive-zone draw, spinning, and wiring one into the back of the cage.
Outside of that pair, though, it was a quiet night from New Jersey’s top offensive talents, the Devils feeing the weight of the key injuries dotted throughout their lineup.
/* if ( "1" == true && 'undefined' !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) { var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}}; adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6372006891112&cmsid=384', so, permalink); } else { adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6372006891112&cmsid=384"; } */ adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6372006891112&cmsid=384"; var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes("cust_params"); var queryString=''; if(adServerUrl_result){ var gettheDUFI = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem("theRED_loc");
if(gettheDUFI){ queryString += "dufiid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; queryString += "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; var ppid = "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; }
var DUFI_IP = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem("DUFI_IP");
if(DUFI_IP){ queryString += "dufiip=" + DUFI_IP + '&'; }
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + 'cust_params=' + encodeURIComponent(queryString) ); }
$el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") );
$( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-771269" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6372006891112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", adserverurl: adServerUrl, section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/6372006891112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/hurricanes-andersen-heads-to-dressing-room-after-collision-with-meier/" }); });
Defensively-dominant Slavin comes up with moment of offensive brilliance
If we’re talking meaningful contributions from all corners of the lineup, how about a moment of appreciation for the bit of offensive wizardry authored by defender Jaccob Slavin on Sunday.
The 30-year-old vet, who’s made his name as one of the steadiest defensive leaders in the game, showed out with a highlight-reel tally in Game 4, reminding the Devils — and everyone else — just how dangerous he can be on both sides of the puck.
With their 3-1 series lead in tow, Slavin and the Canes head into Game 5 Tuesday night looking for their seventh straight trip to Round 2. Should they get that last victory and move on, Brind’Amour’s squad would join some elite company of playoff performers.
Per the TNT broadcast, only four other NHL squads have strung together a stretch of as many consecutive seasons with a playoff series win. The Montreal Canadiens did it twice (winning a series in 10 straight years between 1984-93 and 1951-60), the Philadelphia Flyers did it once (winning a series in nine straight years between 1973-81), and the New York Islanders did it once (winning a series in seven straight years between 1979-85).
The Canes have a chance to add their name to that group, and if Sunday’s performance is any indication, the Devils will have their hands full trying to stop them from getting there.
