Martinook, Andersen help Hurricanes push past Devils 3-1 for 2-0 lead in 1st-round playoff series

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Jordan Martinook and Frederik Andersen played with the steady veteran composure that comes only through game after game of postseason intensity.

It's a big reason why the Carolina Hurricanes hold a 2-0 lead in a playoff series yet again.

Martinook saw an opening and pounced on his chance to break loose for what turned into the go-ahead shorthanded goal in the second period. And Andersen came up big in net all night, putting them at the forefront of the Hurricanes' 3-1 win against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday in Game 2 of their first-round series.

The win improved Carolina to 11-0 when playing for a chance to take a 2-0 series lead dating to its run to the Stanley Cup in 2006.

Shayne Gostisbehere also scored in the second for Carolina, while Seth Jarvis added a clinching empty-net breakaway goal in the final minute. That was enough for the Hurricanes, who had a much tougher fight on their hands against the shorthanded Devils than in a Game 1 romp.

Martinook, who also assisted on Jarvis' empty-netter, continues to thrive against the Devils in the postseason. Going back to a second-round win two years ago, Martinook has four goals and nine assists with at least one point in all seven of those games against New Jersey.

“I love playoffs, I feel like it brings the best out of me,” Martinook said when asked about that success. “I don't know. Just, I love the emotion, the energy, of the games. It's the funnest time of the year for a reason.”

Then there was Andersen, who stood up for 25 saves and didn't allow the Devils to find the back of the net for the final 56 minutes. That including a big stop on a shot by Nathan Bastian with about 6 minutes left.

“You see his demeanor,” Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. “Whether he has a great game or a game he'd like to have back, you would never know. It's just very, very calm. I think the way he plays in net is very calming, too.”

Jesper Bratt scored the Devils' lone goal while Jacob Markstrom finished with 25 saves for New Jersey.

The Hurricanes had dominated the series opener in Sunday's 4-1 win, leaving coach Sheldon Keefe and his players lamenting the Devils' inability to match Carolina's relentless edge in what captain Nico Hischier described as “simple hockey, hard hockey.”

It didn't help, too, that New Jersey was down defensemen Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon from Game 1 injuries. But the Devils got the determined effort they needed to stay in this one.

“I liked a lot about our game today,” Keefe said. “We showed attitude, we showed competitiveness, we showed care.”

It started when the Devils pinned Carolina in its own end early to set up Bratt's clean-up of a rebound for the game's first score at 3:51 of the game.

It also included former Hurricane Brett Pesce personally saving two goals for the Devils on loose pucks against Markstrom, including one coming seconds after Gostisbehere pounced on his own rebound to beat Markstrom. On that one, Pesce knocked a puck out as it laid on the goal line — but not fully across it — behind Markstrom.

He also cleaned up one on Taylor Hall's near score on a push under Markstrom in traffic.

“I thought we could've easily won that game,” Pesce said, an icebag resting under a shirt on his left shoulder in the locker room. “I think we gave it everything we had and came up short.”

The winner fittingly went to the veteran Martinook on a strong attacking night, coming moments after the Devils were lined up for a faceoff to start a power play. Dmitry Orlov collected the loose puck and sent a transition pace to spring Martinook, who blasted a shot past Markstrom at the 5:54 mark of the second to put Carolina ahead for good.

“I can't think of enough good things to say about that game in particular,” Brind'Amour said. “It might have been his most impactful game as a Hurricane. ... So he was all over this game for us.”

The series now shifts north to Newark for Game 3 on Friday night.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) blocks a shot of the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' William Carrier (28) tries to gain control of the puck in front of New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) and Dennis Cholowski (44) during the third period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) controls the puck with New Jersey Devils' Nico Hischier (13) nearby during the third period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour, left, and assistant couch Tim Gleason, right, speak to the team during a timeout in the third period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the New Jersey Devils in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis (24) celebrates his empty net goal against the New Jersey Devils during the third period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) battles for the puck with New Jersey Devils' Nico Hischier (13) during a face-off during the third period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

New Jersey Devils' Stefan Noesen (11) watches the puck go wide off Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) with Dmitry Orlov (7) nearby during the first period of Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis (24) crashes into New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) during the first period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

New Jersey Devils' Jesper Bratt (63) celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) watches the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

New Jersey Devils' Jesper Bratt (63) gathers in the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) has his shot swallowed by New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

New Jersey Devils' Brett Pesce (22) moves the puck away from the crease with Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov (37) nearby during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Martinook, left, celebrates his goal with Dmitry Orlov (7) during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the New Jersey Devils in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' William Carrier (28) battles for the pic between New Jersey Devils' Brett Pesce (22) and goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov (37) battles with New Jersey Devils' Simon Nemec (17) for control of the puck during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

New Jersey Devils' Brett Pesce (22) reaches for the puck to save a potential goal with Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov (37) nearby during the second period of Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois landlord who killed a 6-year-old Muslim boy and severely injured the boy's mother in a brutal hate-crime attack days after the war in Gaza began was sentenced Friday to 53 years in prison.

Joseph Czuba, 73, was found guilty in February of murder, attempted murder and hate-crime charges in the death of Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of his mother, Hanan Shaheen.

Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak sentenced Czuba to 30 years in the boy's death and another 20 years consecutively for the attack on Shaheen. The judge also sentenced him to three years imprisonment for hate crimes. The length of the sentence makes it all but certain he will die behind bars.

Czuba did not speak during the sentencing. His attorney, George Lenard, didn't immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.

The boy's great-uncle, Mohmoud Yousef, was the only family member who spoke during the hearing. He said that no matter the sentence length it wouldn't be enough. The boy's parents had plans for him and Czuba robbed them of that, he said.

Yousef asked Czuba to explain why he attacked the boy and his mother, asking him what news he heard that provoked him, but Czuba did not respond, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Czuba targeted them in October 2023 because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas.

Evidence at trial included harrowing testimony from Shaheen and her frantic 911 call, along with bloody crime scene photos and police video. Jurors deliberated less than 90 minutes before handing in a verdict.

The family had been renting rooms in Czuba’s home in Plainfield, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from Chicago when the attack happened.

Central to prosecutors' case was harrowing testimony from the boy’s mother, who said Czuba attacked her before moving on to her son, insisting they had to leave because they were Muslim. Prosecutors also played the 911 call and showed police footage. Czuba's wife, Mary, whom he has since divorced, also testified for the prosecution, saying he had become agitated about the Israel-Hamas war, which had erupted days earlier.

Police said Czuba pulled a knife from a holder on a belt and stabbed the boy 26 times, leaving the knife in the child's body. Some of the bloody crime scene photos were so explicit that the judge agreed to turn television screens showing them away from the audience, which included Wadee's relatives.

“He could not escape,” Michael Fitzgerald, a Will County assistant state’s attorney, told jurors at trial. “If it wasn’t enough that this defendant killed that little boy, he left the knife in the little boy’s body.”

The jury deliberated for 90 minutes before returning a verdict.

The attack renewed fears of anti-Muslim discrimination and hit particularly hard in Plainfield and surrounding suburbs, which have a large and established Palestinian community. Wadee's funeral drew large crowds and Plainfield officials have dedicated a park playground in his honor.

Shaheen had more than a dozen stab wounds and it took her weeks to recover.

She said there were no prior issues in the two years she rented from the Czubas, even sharing a kitchen and a living room. Then after the start of the war, Czuba told her that they had to move out because Muslims were not welcome. He later confronted Shaheen and attacked her, holding her down, stabbing her and trying to break her teeth.

“He told me ‘You, as a Muslim, must die,’” said Shaheen, who testified at trial in English and Arabic though a translator.

Police testified that officers found Czuba outside the house, sitting on the ground with blood on his body and hands.

Separately, lawsuits have been filed over the boy’s death, including by his father, Odai Alfayoumi, who is divorced from Shaheen and was not living with them. The U.S. Department of Justice also launched a federal hate crimes investigation.

Yousef told reporters after the hearing that Czuba was a grandfather figure to Wadee and the family doesn’t understand what “fake news” Czuba may have heard about the war in Gaza that caused him to attack the boy and his mother. People need to understand Muslims before judging them, he said.

“Some people are bringing this war to this country,” Yousef said. “We cannot do that. We can’t bring the war here. We cannot bring hatred to this country . . . we need that to stop.”

Odai Al Fayoumi, father of Wadee Al Fayoumi, who was murdered by Joseph Czuba in 2023, speaks to the media after the sentencing of Czuba outside the Will County Courthouse in Joliet, Ill., Friday, May 2, 2025. (Pat Nabong /Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Will County Prosecutor Christopher Koch exits the Will County Courthouse after the sentencing of Joseph Czuba in Joliet, Ill., Friday, May 2, 2025. (Pat Nabong /Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Odai Al Fayoumi, left, father of Wadee Al Fayoumi, who was murdered by Joseph Czuba in 2023, walks out of the Will County Courthouse after the sentencing of Czuba in Joliet, Ill., Friday, May 2, 2025. (Pat Nabong /Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Odai Al Fayoumi, left, father of Wadee Al Fayoumi, who was murdered by Joseph Czuba in 2023, walks out of the Will County Courthouse after the sentencing of Czuba in Joliet, Ill., Friday, May 2, 2025. (Pat Nabong /Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Mahmoud Yousef, grandfather of Wadee Al Fayoumi, who was murdered by Joseph Czuba in 2023, speaks to the media after the sentencing of outside the Will County Courthouse in Joliet, Ill., Friday, May 2, 2025. (Pat Nabong /Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Mahmoud Yousef, grandfather of Wadee Al Fayoumi, who was murdered by Joseph Czuba in 2023, speaks to the media after the sentencing of Czuba outside the Will County Courthouse in Joliet, Ill., Friday, May 2, 2025. (Pat Nabong /Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

FILE - Wadee Alfayoumi's father, Oday Al Fayoume, seated right, and his uncle Mahmoud Yousef attend a vigil for Wadee at Prairie Activity and Recreation center in Plainfield, Ill., Oct. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

FILE - Joseph Czuba, 71, stands before Circuit Judge Dave Carlson for his arraignment at the Will County, Ill., courthouse, Oct. 30, 2023, in Joliet, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)