Jeff Skinner scored the go-ahead goal on a breakaway with 10:26 left and the surging Hurricanes stretched their point streak to 10 games with a 3-1 victory Saturday night at Prudential Center that eliminated the Devils from playoff contention for the fifth straight year.
Sebastian Aho scored twice and Eddie Lack made 26 saves for the Hurricanes, who are 7-0-3 in their last 10. They remained five points out of a playoff spot with nine games to go in the regular season.
Travis Zajac scored for the Devils, who have not made the postseason since going to the Stanley Cup final in the 2011-12 season. Cory Schneider stopped 25 shots for New Jersey, which is 2-12-2 in its last 16 games.
“It was a formality at this point,” Schneider said of being eliminated. “I just think to continue to lose games like that is more frustrating. It’s tough. We’re working. We just need to find a way to win. It’s tough not to be in the playoffs, though.”
Skinner’s goal was his 30th of the season and seventh in the last five games. He poked the puck past Devils defenseman Andy Greene at the left point and skated in alone on Schneider.
Aho made it 3-1 with his 23rd goal on a shot from low in the left circle with 3:14 to play.
The Devils tied it 1-all with 2:57 left in the second period after a turnover by the Hurricanes at the New Jersey blue line. Derek Ryan failed to handle a cross-ice pass and Taylor Hall led a counterattack. He skated the puck into the Carolina zone and found Zajac alone between the circles for his 14th goal.
Aho had given Carolina the lead at 2:47 of the period. The Hurricanes kept the puck in the Devils end and Elias Lindholm found Aho alone in front with a pass from behind the net.
The Devils almost took the lead in the third period but Lack stopped a breakaway attempt by Blake Pietila.