How K’Andre Miller’s strong first impression led the Hurricanes past the Devils

RALEIGH

The media swarmed around K’Andre Miller moments after the Carolina Hurricanes downed the New Jersey Devils, 6-3, on Thursday.

That was a no-brainer. The defenseman, playing his first game for the Canes, scored twice in the season opener at Lenovo Center. He was named the game’s first star. It was, by any measure, a smashing debut on opening night for a player traded to the Canes by the New York Rangers in the offseason.

A few feet away in the locker room, winger Seth Jarvis sat talking to team owner Tom Dundon. Jarvis had on a winner’s smile as the two chatted, content in victory and also a bit relieved.

In the third period, Jarvis was mad, then very determined. The Devils tied the score 3-3 when Jarvis let up defensively, allowing New Jersey’s Jesper Bratt to get in front of him and score off a Brett Pesce pass.

“When you’re in a tight game like that and you get the lead and then you mess up like I did, you need to get it back,” Jarvis said.

Jarvis did just that, going to the front of the net to bang the puck past goalie Jacob Markstrom with 2:43 left in regulation. When the Devils pulled Markstrom for a sixth attacker, Jarvis scored again for a 5-3 lead. Eric Robinson added the sixth after Markstrom returned to the net.

It was a game in which the Canes established a strong forecheck to get offensive chances, which they hit at least five posts, which had the sellout crowd groaning. Jarvis twice found the metal in the third period.

“We knew it was coming, although it can be frustrating,” Jarvis said. “They had their pushes but we came back ourselves. I think we can wear teams down with the way we play. And it’s always huge to get a power-play goal.”

That goal was Miller’s second of the game, giving the Canes a 3-2 lead midway through the final period. His first score came in the second period, when he flipped the puck toward the net from the slot — an innocent, soft shot — and it somehow got past Markstrom.

“Two quite different goals there,” Jarvis said. “But you could tell from the first time we stepped on the ice in training camp that he was a special player.”

It was the first game for Miller, who sat out all of the preseason games with an injury, but also for Nikolaj Ehlers, who played on Jarvis’ line with center Sebastian Aho and showed off his speed and puckhandling skills, even if he did not have a point.

All four lines contributed. Taylor Hall, playing on the fourth line, scored the first goal of the season in the opening period. That came after Robinson fought for the puck on faceoff and pushed it out to defenseman Alexander Nikishin.

Shayne Gostisbehere got off a shot from the point that Hall redirected past Markstrom as Nikishin also earned an assist — the first regular-season NHL point for the Russian.

Dougie Hamilton, a former Canes defenseman, Cody Glass and then Bratt scored for the Devils against Canes starter Frederik Andersen, who had 19 saves.

“I liked the fight of our guys to keep coming back but we were the second-best team all night,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said. “You play your first game, in this building, that’s a tough assignment.”

Miller, who was paired defensively with Jalen Chatfield, said he continually was making adjustments during the opener.

“I had to figure it out on the go, not having any preseason games,” Miller said. “Once I got the speed of the game, I felt great.”

Miller mentioned that he had made a “good first impression.” There was no doubting that.

“I thought he was exceptional,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “He was impactful. He hadn’t played any games yet but stepped right in and looked like he hadn’t missed a beat.”

And the opener?

“It was a great start,” Brind’Amour said.

This story was originally published October 9, 2025 at 10:16 PM.