NEWARK, N.J. — Coach Lindy Ruff said he has never been as disappointed in a crucial game as he was watching the
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The Devils were zombified after the Hurricanes took the lead.
“We just stopped playing,” captain Nico Hischier said.
“We got the wind taken out of our sails really bad there in the second period and it was unfortunate,” defenseman Damon Severson said. “We’re in the second round of the playoffs. Now we’re facing elimination. There wasn’t any pushback from us. It’s not fun losing that way. We didn’t give our fans something to cheer about tonight. So that’s on us.”
When the Devils lose in the playoffs, they lose big. They’ve been outscored in their six losses to the Rangers and Hurricanes by a count of 32-7.
“We get down and then every game’s kind of been like that for us. Just grows and grows. We started pretty good in the first period and then the late goal gave them some juice. And then they took it to us,” defenseman Dougie Hamilton said.
After their Game 3 loss, the Hurricanes not only responded with more effort but with tactical changes that didn’t allow the Devils to get to their speed game.
“It turned into a game of pingpong. Didn’t you see it there,” Ruff asked. “They got guys out of the zone. We got guys out of the zone. Their game was similar to our game. Try to spread the zone out. But again, it comes down to battles. It’s not tactical. Win your battles. Move your feet.”
Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour was happy with the way his team limited the Devils’ chances.
“We didn’t come here to win one game. We came here to win them both. But we didn’t,” he said. “But the guys understand that it goes like this sometimes. It’s always about how you respond.”
Now it’s on the Devils to respond on Thursday — or their season ends.
“It definitely sucks, but no time for feeling sorry about ourselves. Got to regroup, fast,” Hischier said.
