There had been hopes that the Christmas Break would be what the Carolina Hurricanes would need in order to shake off a 5-5-0 last 10 stretch, but instead a lot of the same problems that had plagued the team before the break reared their head in a 4-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils. You can take your pick of issues—be it forgetful defense, goaltending not making the necessary stops, or the two lines loaded with the stars of the team continuing to be held without points.
The Canes started the game well, at least. The first period saw the Hurricanes dominate the Devils in shots, and that work paid off as Jacob Markstrom wasn’t quite able to put the full squeeze on a shot, and the heads up play by Eric Robinson batted the squirting puck into the net.