Hurricanes defeat Devils 5-2, lead series 3-1

The Carolina Hurricanes have taken a commanding 3-1 lead over the New Jersey Devils in their NHL playoff series, propelled by a standout performance from Andrei Svechnikov, who recorded a hat trick in Game 4. Svechnikov's contributions, along with consistent play from teammates like Sebastian Aho and Brent Burns, have put Carolina one win away from advancing to the second round. The Hurricanes' strong offensive output and defensive discipline have overwhelmed a Devils team struggling to generate offense and missing key defensemen. Goaltender Frederik Andersen left Game 4 due to injury, with Pyotr Kochetkov stepping in to finish the win. The Devils, led by Timo Meier and Nico Hischier, now face elimination and must significantly improve their scoring to extend the series. Carolina will look to clinch the series at home in Game 5.