The New Jersey Devils were held to one shot in the first period. Goaltender Akira Schmid pulled after allowing three goals on 11 shots.
RALEIGH, NC -- History repeated itself as the New Jersey Devils dropped another Game 1 as they fell to the Carolina Hurricanes by a final score of 5-1. Nathan Bastian scored the lone goal for the Devils, while Brett Pesce, Seth Jarvis, Jesperi Kotkamiemi, Brady Skjei, and Jesper Fast found the back of the net for the Hurricanes.
An Abysmal First Period for New Jersey
The Devils were not ready when the puck dropped at PNC Arena.
Nico Hischier won the opening faceoff against Kotkamiemi, but it was all downhill after that. New Jersey was chasing the puck and looked completely overwhelmed. By the conclusion of the opening frame, the Devils had only one shot on goal.
As expected, New Jersey got better as the game went on but could not overcome the first 20 minutes. After the game, Bastian met with the media and said there were some positives the team could build on as they prepare for Game 2.
"The score is what it was, but on the bench, the vibes were not bad," Bastian said. "We did feel like we were in the game for most of the game. The score tells one story. I think the first game against the Rangers honestly was a lot worse. Tonight wasn't great, but it's something we can build off the second and third period."
Can the BMW Line be New Jersey's X-Factor?
As fans know, forwards Bastian, Michael McLeod, and Miles Wood make up the team's "BMW Line." The trio has had success over the past couple of seasons but has proven inconsistent when it comes to impacting the scoresheet.
Head coach Lindy Ruff reunited the trio for Game 7 versus the Rangers and kept them intact for their first game against Carolina.
McLeod led the team with four shots on goal, and as a line, they combined for eight of the team's 18 shots on goal. Bastian would score the team's lone goal five minutes into the second period, with both his linemates credited with the assists for a full "BMW Line" effort.
"I thought again (McLeod) had great legs, hanging on to pucks, and creating opportunities, (Bastian) scored the goal," said Ruff. "They were in on a couple ofother (chances), but I thought overall that line gave us a real good night. Miles was skating and moving inside the offensive zone, and they spent a lot of time in Carolina's zone. McLeod has played well and has used his speed, and he's not afraid to handle the puck and traffic."
Additionally, the line combined for seven hits. If they can play a disciplined game, this trio can potentially be an x-factor in the series. Between Wood's speed and ability to chase down pucks, Bastian's net-front presence, and McLeod's faceoff wins and wall play, they have the potential to make a big impact in this series.
Ruff has previously summed up the line best: "They're dangerous in a couple of ways, they're dangerous on the rush with the speed they have, and they're a hard, physical line down low to control."
Meier's Presence Was Missed
As the game approached, fans knew Timo Meier would be a game-time decision depending on how he was feeling. He was in fact out of the lineup, with Jesper Boqvist taking his place on the third line with Dawson Mercer and Yegor Sharangovich.
The team's third line had a rough night. Boqvist saw the lowest amount of ice time among all skaters, 6:18, while Sharangovich played a mere 7:46. They provided no physical presence and did not provide an impact.
Meier may not have found his name on the scoresheet in the series versus the Rangers, but how much of an impact he made in the series can't be overstated. He led the team with 23 hits in seven games, which was six more than the next forward, Erik Haula.
Ruff said during his postgame availability that Meier is considered "day-to-day," and for the team's sake, he needs to come back before the series gets out of hand.
Quick Hits
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The Devils will be back in action on Friday, May 5, 2023, as they look to even the series before returning to New Jersey for Game 3.