RALEIGH, N.C., April 4 (UPI) -- Jamie Langenbrunner beat Arturs Irbe on a breakaway early in the third period as the New Jersey Devils rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes and a share of sixth place in the Eastern Conference Wednesday night.
Jeff O'Neill and rookie Jaroslav Svoboda struck 3:44
apart in the second period to give Carolina a 2-1 lead. But, the Devils rallied for their sixth win in the last seven road games.
Sergei Brylin took advantage of a mistake by goaltender Arturs Irbe to get the tying goal with 24 seconds left in the second.
Irbe went behind the net to play the puck but was outbattled by Stephane Richer. Two Hurricanes tried unsuccessfully to clear it before Brylin put his first shot off the skate of defenseman Glen Wesley. He got the rebound and wristed it past defenseman David Tanabe as Irbe scrambled to get back in position.
A favorable bounce led to Langenbrunner's game-winner 3:45 into
the third period. Wesley's clearing attempt up the right
boards hit a linesman and came to New Jersey's Patrik Elias,
who spun and curled a pass that sent Langenbrunner in alone.
He deked Irbe to the ice, then flicked a shot under the
crossbar for his 13th goal and third in nine games since coming
over from Dallas at the March 19 trade deadline.
Martin Brodeur preserved the lead with a late save on O'Neill
and finished with 24 stops for the Devils.
The loss cut the Hurricanes' lead in the Southeast Division to
four points over surging Washington.
