Svechnikov has a hat trick to lead Hurricanes to 4-1 win over Devils

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Andrei Svechnikov had a hat trick and Frederik Andersen made 28 saves as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Saturday night.

Jackson Blake also scored for the Hurricanes, who improved to 6-1-1 in their last eight games. Sebastian Aho had three assists as Carolina won a night after routing the defending champion Florida Panthers 9-1 at home.

Timo Meier scored for New Jersey, which had its two-game winning streak snapped. The Devils are 4-8-1 since Dec. 19 when they won 2-1 at Utah.

Svechnikov broke a scoreless tie at 13:12 of the second, whipping a shot past Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who had 29 saves. The 25-year-old Russian forward scored again 57 seconds later to make it 2-0 after two.

Aho leads the Hurricanes with 50 points, including 17 goals. Svechnikov is second on the team with 40 points. The 36-year-old Andersen improved 7-10-3 this season.

Meier ruined Andersen’s shutout bid with his 13th goal on the power play at 4:27 of the third with assists to Cody Glass and Dougie Hamilton.

Blake restored the two-goal margin with his 15th goal at 8:33 of the third before Svechnikov completed his hat trick with his 16th goal this season at 15:52.

The first-place Hurricanes lead the Islanders by seven points in the Metropolitan Division.

Carolina has won all three meetings with New Jersey this season, including a 3-1 victory at Prudential Center on Jan. 4. The teams meet again March 28 in North Carolina.

Devils: Visit the Calgary Flames on Monday night to start four-game road trip.

Hurricanes: Host the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

New Jersey Devils left wing Paul Cotter (47) checks Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (20) in front of the Devils bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) battles for the puckw ith New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) reaches for a puck against Carolina Hurricanes right wing Jackson Blake (53) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (43) skates with the puck past Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

DENVER (AP) — Bo Nix broke his right ankle late in overtime of the Denver Broncos' divisional-round victory over Buffalo on Saturday and will have surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the playoffs.

Coach Sean Payton delivered the stunning news about his second-year quarterback in the aftermath of Denver's biggest win in a decade. Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham will start the AFC championship game next weekend.

“Stiddy’s ready,” Payton said after returning to the postgame lectern to discuss the injury following Denver's 33-30 victory.

Payton said Nix got hurt on a keeper where he lost 2 yards and was tackled by safety Cole Bishop. Nix was limping after the play, but there was no indication that he suffered such a serious injury.

On the next play, Nix threw a deep pass to Marvin Mims Jr. that drew a 30-yard pass-interference flag and got the Broncos well into field-goal range. Nix then took a knee to center the ball for Wil Lutz's game-ending 23-yard field goal.

Payton said Nix will have surgery Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama.

“He's such a strong, faith-based guy,” Payton said. “He's sitting in the hallway with his family and coming over and we're all talking to him. He knows that God's got a plan for him and he said he had (a broken ankle) in high school and then he said he had one at Auburn.

“And I said I didn't realize that. I said if I had known that I wouldn't have drafted you,” Payton cracked.

The locker room had cleared out and reporters were waiting in an interview room for Nix when Payton returned and delivered the news.

Nix, the 12th overall pick out of Oregon in the 2024 NFL draft, tied Russell Wilson's NFL record with two dozen victories in his first two seasons. Saturday's victory was his first in the playoffs. The Broncos lost last year at Buffalo but Nix led Denver to the AFC's top seed this season.

“He's a tough cookie,” Payton said. “And this team all year has lost key players and will rise up for the next challenge.”

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

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix celebrates after a touchdown during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) greets Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) after an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix celebrates after an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)