RALEIGH, N.C. — Martin Brodeur can’t get back to the Devils soon enough.
Backup goalie Johan Hedberg was battered again in a 6-3 loss last night, allowing five goals on just 18 Carolina shots through two periods before getting pulled for Jeff Frazee, who made his NHL debut.
Alexander Semin and Jay Harrison scored 28 seconds apart in the first period, and Jiri Tlusty had two goals including an empty-netter. Jeff Skinner and Chris Terry also tallied for the Hurricanes, who won for the fifth time in six games.
The Devils got two goals from Ilya Kovalchuk, including a short-handed tally, and one from Patrik Elias but that wasn’t enough to avoid their seventh loss in eight games without Brodeur.
New Jersey mounted its rally in the third as Kovalchuk scored 22 seconds into the period and Elias deflected in a shot by teammate Marek Zidlicky to make it 5-3.
But the Hurricanes buckled down on defense and wrapped up the win.
Frazee stopped all three shots he faced.
Kovalchuk’s short-handed goal with 5:20 left in the first brought the Devils within 2-1, but Carolina scored the next three goals.
The Devils lead the NHL with seven short-handed goals.
Tlusty gave Carolina a 3-1 lead at 4:42 of the second after taking a crossing pass from Semin on a play that was started by Ellis.
Terry scored his first NHL goal when he poked the puck between Hedberg’s legs at 11:09 to make it 4-1. Skinner gave the Hurricanes a four-goal lead with 2:45 left in the second.