With the Devils’ defense hurting, Nemec scored a game-winning goal early in the second overtime against the Hurricanes in Game 3 of the first-round series on Friday, minutes before midnight. The 3-2 win at Prudential Center pulled New Jersey to 2-1 in the series with Game 4 set at home for Sunday.

A late-night sprint down the ice late Friday night provided Simon Nemec redemption, offered a path back into the Eastern Conference quarterfinals for the New Jersey Devils -- and reminded the Carolina Hurricanes of the precarious nature of their position as favorites in the series.