The New Jersey Devils season ended Tuesday night in a disheartening 5-4 double-overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. It was a game that was a microcosm of a lost season, one that leaves nothing but a bad taste in the mouths of fans.
The Devils jumped out to a 3-0 lead in Game 5, as Dawson Mercer, Timo Meier and Stefan Noesen all lit the lamp in the opening period. There was a sense that perhaps the Devils could find a way to extend the series.
Then it all fell apart.
The Hurricanes scored four goals in the second period, including three goals in a matter of four minutes to tie the game at three.
Later, after Nico Hischier gave the Devs a brief 4-3 lead by tapping the puck into the net on an assist by Paul Cotter and Noesen, Sebastian Aho tied it once again with less than nine minutes to go in the period.
After a scoreless third period, and a scoreless first overtime, the Hurricanes finally put the nail in the coffin on the Devils season when Aho lit the lamp on a slap shot from the circle to win it 5-4.

Comments