Martinook, Andersen help Hurricanes push past Devils 3-1 for 2-0 lead in 1st-round playoff series

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Jordan Martinook and Frederik Andersen played with the steady veteran composure that comes only through game after game of postseason intensity.

It's a big reason why the Carolina Hurricanes hold a 2-0 lead in a playoff series yet again.

Martinook saw an opening and pounced on his chance to break loose for what turned into the go-ahead shorthanded goal in the second period. And Andersen came up big in net all night, putting them at the forefront of the Hurricanes' 3-1 win against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday in Game 2 of their first-round series.

The win improved Carolina to 11-0 when playing for a chance to take a 2-0 series lead dating to its run to the Stanley Cup in 2006.

Shayne Gostisbehere also scored in the second for Carolina, while Seth Jarvis added a clinching empty-net breakaway goal in the final minute. That was enough for the Hurricanes, who had a much tougher fight on their hands against the shorthanded Devils than in a Game 1 romp.

Martinook, who also assisted on Jarvis' empty-netter, continues to thrive against the Devils in the postseason. Going back to a second-round win two years ago, Martinook has four goals and nine assists with at least one point in all seven of those games against New Jersey.

“I love playoffs, I feel like it brings the best out of me,” Martinook said when asked about that success. “I don't know. Just, I love the emotion, the energy, of the games. It's the funnest time of the year for a reason.”

Then there was Andersen, who stood up for 25 saves and didn't allow the Devils to find the back of the net for the final 56 minutes. That including a big stop on a shot by Nathan Bastian with about 6 minutes left.

“You see his demeanor,” Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. “Whether he has a great game or a game he'd like to have back, you would never know. It's just very, very calm. I think the way he plays in net is very calming, too.”

Jesper Bratt scored the Devils' lone goal while Jacob Markstrom finished with 25 saves for New Jersey.

The Hurricanes had dominated the series opener in Sunday's 4-1 win, leaving coach Sheldon Keefe and his players lamenting the Devils' inability to match Carolina's relentless edge in what captain Nico Hischier described as “simple hockey, hard hockey.”

It didn't help, too, that New Jersey was down defensemen Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon from Game 1 injuries. But the Devils got the determined effort they needed to stay in this one.

“I liked a lot about our game today,” Keefe said. “We showed attitude, we showed competitiveness, we showed care.”

It started when the Devils pinned Carolina in its own end early to set up Bratt's clean-up of a rebound for the game's first score at 3:51 of the game.

It also included former Hurricane Brett Pesce personally saving two goals for the Devils on loose pucks against Markstrom, including one coming seconds after Gostisbehere pounced on his own rebound to beat Markstrom. On that one, Pesce knocked a puck out as it laid on the goal line — but not fully across it — behind Markstrom.

He also cleaned up one on Taylor Hall's near score on a push under Markstrom in traffic.

“I thought we could've easily won that game,” Pesce said, an icebag resting under a shirt on his left shoulder in the locker room. “I think we gave it everything we had and came up short.”

The winner fittingly went to the veteran Martinook on a strong attacking night, coming moments after the Devils were lined up for a faceoff to start a power play. Dmitry Orlov collected the loose puck and sent a transition pace to spring Martinook, who blasted a shot past Markstrom at the 5:54 mark of the second to put Carolina ahead for good.

“I can't think of enough good things to say about that game in particular,” Brind'Amour said. “It might have been his most impactful game as a Hurricane. ... So he was all over this game for us.”

The series now shifts north to Newark for Game 3 on Friday night.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) blocks a shot of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' William Carrier (28) tries to gain control of the puck in front of New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) and Dennis Cholowski (44) during the third period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) controls the puck with New Jersey Devils' Nico Hischier (13) nearby during the third period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour, left, and assistant couch Tim Gleason, right, speak to the team during a timeout in the third period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the New Jersey Devils in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis (24) celebrates his empty net goal against the New Jersey Devils during the third period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) battles for the puck with New Jersey Devils' Nico Hischier (13) during a face-off during the third period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

New Jersey Devils' Stefan Noesen (11) watches the puck go wide off Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) with Dmitry Orlov (7) nearby during the first period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis (24) crashes into New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) during the first period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

New Jersey Devils' Jesper Bratt (63) celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) watches the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

New Jersey Devils' Jesper Bratt (63) gathers in the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) has his shot swallowed by New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

New Jersey Devils' Brett Pesce (22) moves the puck away from the crease with Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov (37) nearby during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Martinook, left, celebrates his goal with Dmitry Orlov (7) during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the New Jersey Devils in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' William Carrier (28) battles for the pic between New Jersey Devils' Brett Pesce (22) and goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov (37) battles with New Jersey Devils' Simon Nemec (17) for control of the puck during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

New Jersey Devils' Brett Pesce (22) reaches for the puck to save a potential goal with Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov (37) nearby during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) at Denver (13-3)

Sunday, 4:25 EST, CBS.

BetMGM NFL Odds: Broncos by 12 1/2.

Against the spread: Chargers 8-7-1; Broncos 6-9-1.

Series record: Broncos lead 72-58-1.

Last meeting: Chargers beat Broncos 23-20 on Sept. 21, 2025, in Inglewood, California.

Last week: Chargers lost to Texans 20-16; Broncos beat Chiefs 20-13.

Chargers offense: overall (12), rush (12), pass (15), scoring (T-16).

Chargers defense: overall (4), rush (9), pass (6), scoring (7).

Broncos offense: overall (9), rush (19), pass (9), scoring (14).

Broncos defense: overall (3), rush (2), pass (8), scoring (4).

Turnover differential: Chargers plus-4 ; Broncos minus-5.

QB Trey Lance is making his sixth career start and first for the Chargers. He's appeared in three games this season, completing 7 of 13 passes for 90 yards with no touchdowns, no interceptions and two sacks.

WR Courtland Sutton surpassed 1,000 yards last week, but he dropped a touchdown pass and caught just four of the 10 passes Bo Nix threw his way. Sutton has 73 receptions for 1,012 yards and seven TDs this season, a similar output to last year when he caught 81 passes for 1,081 yards and eight TDs.

The Chargers offensive line and backup QB versus Denver's dominant pass rush. The Broncos have had a franchise-record and NFL-best 64 sacks so far and are within striking distance of the NFL record of 72 set by the 1984 Chicago Bears, who had a dozen in their season finale that year.

Chargers: Coach Jim Harbaugh said he's sitting QB Justin Herbert (left hand) for the finale along with several other starters. Rookie RB Omarion Hampton (ankle) missed practice time this week as did CB Nikko Reed (hamstring) and OL Jamaree Salyer (hamstring). Harbaugh said he doesn't expect Salyer to play Sunday.

Broncos: LB Dre Greenlaw has been dealing with a hamstring injury and won't play in the finale. WR Pat Bryant (concussion), TE Nate Adkins (knee) and DL John Franklin-Meyers (hip) were limited in practice this week.

The Chargers have won all three games against Denver and Sean Payton with Jim Harbaugh as head coach. All three have been one-score games.

The Chargers clinched a playoff berth for the second straight season, the first time that's happened since they reached the postseason four consecutive times from 2006-09. ... The Bolts are coming off a 20-16 loss to Houston in which they were 2 of 5 in the red zone while the defense allowed a pair of rare long touchdown passes to open the game. K Cameron Dicker missed a field goal from inside 40 yards for the first time in his career and pulled an extra point wide for the first time this season. ... The Chargers are the only team that's unbeaten (5-0) in the AFC West this season. ... RB Omarion Hampton has a touchdown in three of his past four games. ... WR Quentin Johnston is coming off a 98-yard performance in Week 17. ... WR Keenan Allen had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown against Denver in Week 3. ... The Broncos were the first team to clinch a playoff spot and can earn the AFC's No. 1 overall seed with a win Sunday. The Broncos won the AFC West for the first time since 2015, ending the Kansas City Chiefs' nine-year reign atop the division. ... Broncos QB Bo Nix is tied for the second-most victories over the first two seasons at his position with 23. With a win Sunday, he'll tie Russell Wilson's NFL record of 24 wins in his first two seasons. ... Nix needs one TD pass to become the fourth QB in NFL history with at least 25 in each of his first two seasons. ... Nix is the third player ever, joining Herbert and Peyton Manning, with 3,500-plus passing yards and 25 or more TD passes in each of his first two NFL seasons. ... RB RJ Harvey leads rookies with a dozen TDs this season. He's scored a TD in five consecutive games. ... LB Nik Bonitto had two sacks in Week 3 against the Chargers.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden (86) celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)