Markstrom stops 29 shots as Devils down Hurricanes 4-2

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Devils defenseman Luke Hughes had a goal and an assist, Jacob Markstrom made 29 saves and New Jersey defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night.

Ondrej Palat, Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer also scored for New Jersey, which has won three straight and six of seven.

Eric Robinson and Brent Burns scored for the Hurricanes, who lost for the third time in four games. Carolina had 31 shots on goal, after the Devils permitted 20 or fewer in each of their previous seven games.

Robinson opened the scoring at 10:03 of the first period by poking the puck past Markstrom, who was coming off consecutive 12-save shutouts.

Palat tied it at 16:14, followed by Hischier’s team-best 18th goal 42 seconds later to put New Jersey ahead 2-1.

Burns tied it for Carolina just 22 seconds into the middle period.

Hughes, the 21-year-old brother of Devils star center Jack Hughes, then scored at 4:15 followed by Mercer at 8:47 to put New Jersey ahead 4-2.

Pyotr Kochetkov made 19 saves for the Hurricanes.

The Devils blanked the New York Rangers 5-0 at home on Monday after defeating Pittsburgh 3-0 last Saturday at Prudential Center.

Carolina lost 5-2 at Nashville on Monday before the holiday break.

Devils: New Jersey is 17-6-1 since a 3-0 loss at Calgary on Nov. 1.

Hurricanes: Allowed four goals for the second consecutive game after giving up three or fewer in their previous six games.

Hischier’s goal less than a minute after Palat’s tying goal late in the first gave New Jersey momentum.

Markstrom is 19-6-2 in his first season with the Devils.

The teams complete a home-and-home series Saturday at Carolina.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) stops a shot by Carolina Hurricanes left wing William Carrier (28) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New Jersey Devils left wing Ondrej Palat, second right, celebrates after scoring a goal past Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov, second left, in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (43) controls the puck past Carolina Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake, right, in the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes reacts after scoring a goal in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier is congratulated by Stefan Noesen (11) after scoring a goal in the first period of an NHL hockey game in front of Carolina Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis (24) Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New Jersey Devils center Dawson Mercer (91) reacts with teammates after scoring a goal past Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov in the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

At least one Mega Millions player has plenty of dough to ring in the New Year after drawing the winning number. After three months without anyone winning the top prize in the lottery, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold in California for the drawing Friday night, according to the Mega Millions website.

The California Lottery said the winning ticket was sold at Circle K (Sunshine Food and Gas) on Rhonda Road in Cottonwood. The winning ticket matched the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the gold Mega Ball 6. The identity of the winner or winners was not immediately known.

The total amount of the Mega Millions jackpot would only be distributed to a winner who chooses an annuity paid over 29 years. Nearly all grand prize winners opt to take a cash payout, which for Friday night’s drawing is an estimated $549.7 million.

Despite the game’s long odds of 1 in 302.6 million, players continued to purchase tickets as the size of the grand prize grew. Until Friday, the last time a Mega Millions player hit the top prize was Sept. 10.

The largest-ever Mega Millions jackpot ticket worth $1.6 billion was sold in Florida in August 2023. Two prizes for its compatriot Powerball lottery have been larger.

Mega Millions and Powerball are sold in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball also is sold in Puerto Rico.

Mega Millions ticket prices are set to rise from $2 to $5 in April. The increase will be one of many changes that officials say will result in improved jackpot odds, more frequent giant prizes and even larger payouts.

Rob, right, buys a Mega Millions ticket at Rossi's Deli in San Francisco, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

A Mega Millions lottery ticket is displayed at a store on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Tigard, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Dennis Murphy shows off his lottery tickets he just bought at Joe's Service Center on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in Altadena, Calif. In 2022, the location had sold a $2.04 billion Powerball ticket. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)