Devils Finally Win At Home

Saddled with their longest winless streak at home since 1992, the New Jersey Devils really weren't upset playing a mediocre game against one of their favorites patsies, the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Devils won 6-4 on Saturday night and that's all they cared about.

"I'm just glad we got the win and were able to score some goals," defenseman Ken Daneyko said after recording his first three-assist, regular-season game in 15 seasons.

"It certainly breaks a schneid. It wasn't the prettiest but we'll take it now," he added. "We were snake-bitten at home and to get a victory can certainly build our confidence."

Brendan Morrison and Petr Sykora scored in the second period to put New Jersey ahead for good as it ended a three-game overall losing streak and a five-game winless streak at home (0-4-1).

Beating Carolina is nothing special. It was the Devils' fourth win in as many games against the Hurricanes.

"We have to find a way to play against these guys," said Carolina forward Gary Roberts, who missed three chances to tie the game at 4-4 in the third period. "It seems every year one team has your number. This year it seems to be the Devils."

Scott Niedermayer, Krzysztof Oliwa, Jay Pandolfo and Randy McKay also scored for the Devils.

"We didn't play as well as we would have liked but it's a lot easier to take it when you win," Devils center Bobby Holik said. "Again we had defensive letdowns. It's been the same old story, but let's look at the win first. We really needed those two points tonight."

Paul Ranheim scored twice and Bates Battaglia and Ron Francis once for the Hurricanes, whose three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1) was snapped.

Carolina played without its leading scorer, Keith Primeau, who was sidelined by a badly bruised wrist sustained Friday night against the Rangers.

Playing on a line with Holik because McKay was given a misconduct penalty, Morrison put the Devils ahead for good at 13:36 of the second period with a shot from the left circle just seconds after a faceoff.

Sykora extended the lead to 4-2 with 1:44 left in the period with his 10th power-play goal, but a bad giveaway by Daneyko allowed Ranheim to beat Martin Brodeur in close 35 seconds later.

Roberts, who annoyed the Devils with several hits during the game, missed a shorthanded breakaway, was stopped by Brodeur on a wraparound and fanned all alone in front in the final period.

Pandolfo and McKay beat Trevor Kidd 14 seconds apart late in the period to clinch the game.

"I don't think our effort defensively was good enough to win a game in a tough building against a big, strong team," Ranheim said.

The Devils took one-goal leads twice in the first period and then made mistakes to allow the Hurricanes to tie the score.

Niedermayer scored for New Jersey just 36 seconds after the opening faceoff with shot from the right point.

Battaglia scored a little more than four minutes later, coming out of the penalty box and beating Brodeur on a breakaway.

It took New Jersey 20 seconds to regain the lead when a point shot by Daneyko deflected past Kidd off the leg of Oliwa. A giveaway in front by Niedermayer five minutes later allowed Francis to tie the score.

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