The Carolina Hurricanes gave rookie goaltender Jack LaFontaine the start in New Jersey. They got off to a fast start with a pair of goals in the first six minutes. Then, most of the skaters took the rest of the night off as LaFontaine was left to fend for himself against a young, speedy, Devils squad with nothing to lose. Predictably, it didn't go very well. the Devils scored 7 of the next 9 goals and pulled away from the Canes.