Devils lament missed chances early in Game 2 loss in Eastern 2nd Round

RALEIGH, N.C. — Nico Hischier had a blank stare as he stood in front of his locker trying to find words to describe another disappointing effort for the New Jersey Devils in a 6-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at PNC Arena on Friday.

The Devils captain looked discouraged, and with good reason.

“It’s frustrating, for sure,” Hischier said. “We had some chances in the beginning, but what bothers me the most is we got outbattled again. It’s the playoffs. Skill doesn’t mean a thing. You’ve got to battle hard for your opportunities and they outbattled us for a second game in a row.”

Hischier noted a strong start followed by a second-period collapse that has the Devils trailing 2-0 in this best-of-7 series that shifts to New Jersey for Game 3 on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET; TBS, SN1, TVAS).

[RELATED: Complete Hurricanes vs. Devils series coverage]

The Devils vowed to start the game with a lot more energy and conviction after an ineffective 5-1 loss in Game 1 on Wednesday, and they did.

They managed six shots during back-to-back power plays, including a 5-on-3 advantage for 23 seconds, after drawing penalties at 3:33 and 5:10 of the first period. But in the end, they had nothing to show for it. 

Instead, Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen answered the bell, and the Devils combusted. It set the stage for a complete turn of events in the second period, when New Jersey was outshot (16-12) and outscored (4-0).

“They have a good team over there, it’s not pretty hockey with the way they play,” Hischier said. “We’re really struggling with that but they’re playing playoff hockey. What bothers me most is we got outbattled two games in a row. They play their system well, and what it comes down to is who wants it more. Who wants the puck more.

“Whoever wins more battles, wins the game … that’s frustrating for me.”

Video: Kotkaniemi scores twice in Hurricanes Game 2 win

New Jersey had a 7-3 shot advantage 8:57 into the first, but that’s when Carolina whipped up a surge of its own, hitting its opponent at every opportunity and finishing with a 6-1 shot edge over the remaining 11:03.

“We missed early opportunities on a good power play and in the second period we lost our patience,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “You look at a wall battle on first power-play goal (by Jesperi Kotkaniemi 1:35 into the second); a battle down low on the second goal (by Kotkaniemi 2:23 later).

“That turned the game. You can’t play like we did at the end of the second period, where you’re just handing them opportunities.”

The Hurricanes have dominated the Devils 5-on-5, an area Ruff believes needs to change, and quickly. That wasn’t the case when New Jersey eliminated the New York Rangers in seven games in the Eastern Conference First Round.

“Right now, 5-on-5, they’re a better team,” Ruff said. “We got to win more battles. You got to be more determined. We knew this was going to be a different series. The last series was dominated by the…