from Luke DeCock of the News & Observer,

Fourteen years is too long.

There was a time, an epoch ago, when the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils seemed destined to collide in the playoffs, year after year after year. Then, the Hurricanes faded from relevance and as they returned the Devils did the same, and never the twain shall meet.

But based on the way the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference are shaking out this season, there are pretty good odds that time has come again.

And based on the way their games have gone this season, there are equally good odds that a Canes-Devils series would be as much fun as it ever was. Maybe even more.

Tuesday night was a disaster for the Hurricanes, who led by two goals going into the final minute of the second period and ended up losing 5-3. But it was an entertaining disaster, full of wild momentum swings, a pair of short-handed goals, a controversial winner — replays showed Dawson Mercer’s breakaway was sprung by a high stick, but the officials missed it and it’s not a challengable play outside the offensive zone — and an epic collapse by the Hurricanes’ third defensive pairing of Jalen Chatfield and Dylan Coghlan.

Pyotr Kotchetkov was poor as well, and while the rookie helped carry the Hurricanes through their winning streak, he clearly needs some time in the AHL to recalibrate. Frederik Andersen, who has been practicing for more than a month, can’t return soon enough — and could as soon as Thursday, although the weekend appears more likely.

Tuesday’s wild loss came on the heels of their last meeting with the Devils in Newark nine days ago, in which the Hurricanes were up 2-1 and 3-2, fell behind 4-3 late and ended up winning in a shootout. That win extended the Hurricanes’ winning streak to 11. They have a new streak now, 0-3-1 since then.

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