ESPN NHL

New Jersey at Carolina 7:30 pm EDT Eastern Conference semifinals Hurricanes lead, 1-0

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The New Jersey Devils were the hottest team in the NHL. That was before they were blown over by the Carolina Hurricanes in the opener of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Game Two is Monday night at Carolina, where the Hurricanes snapped the Devils' 15-game winning streak.

Ray Whitney scored a pair of fortuitous goals on attempted passes, Eric Staal recorded a goal and two assists and rookie Cam Ward posted his first career playoff shutout in a resounding 6-0 victory on Saturday.

But the story of Game One was special teams. Five of Carolina's goals came on the power-play - one fewer than in its six-game series victory over Montreal in the conference quarterfinals, when it converted 6-of-30 opportunities with the man advantage. New Jersey failed on five power-play chances.

It was not a happy 34th birthday for Martin Brodeur, who allowed two more goals to the Hurricanes than he did in the Devils' four-game sweep of the New York Rangers in the conference quarterfinals.

Brodeur won all 15 games with a 1.72 goals-against average during the streak - 11 regular-season contests and four in the playoffs.

But after sitting for six days following the sweep of the Rangers, Brodeur appeared to be a bit rusty and left with 6:53 left in the third period after a power-play goal by Brind'Amour made it 6-0.

The Hurricanes, who were off for three days after eliminating Montreal, put on a clinic in puck movement with the man advantage. New Jersey killed off 19-of-21 power-play chances against the Rangers, but had no success against Carolina.

The 22-year-old Ward, who idolizes Brodeur, made 21 saves and has now won his first five career playoff starts. He allowed a total of five goals in his four wins against Montreal.

The series shifts to New Jersey for Game Three on Wednesday night.