Jackson Blake Scores His First NHL Goal as Hurricanes Defeat Devils

RALEIGH, N.C. – For years, Carolina Hurricanes‘ Associate General Manager Darren Yorke has recognized Jackson Blake for his capability to produce highlight-worthy moments on the ice. Though the goal scored by Blake during Tuesday night’s matchup against the New Jersey Devils might not feature in his “best of” compilation, it marks a milestone in his career that he is unlikely to forget.

The goal occurred during the game’s final period when the Devils’ goaltender, Jacob Markstrom, attempted to play the puck around the boards, only to find Dmitry Orlov of the Hurricanes. Orlov promptly returned the puck towards the net, where Blake skillfully deflected it past New Jersey’s defenses and into the goal, igniting a wave of jubilation among the 18,700 fans present at the Lenovo Center.

“I didn’t even know what I was doing. I just saw Orly, and I went to him,” Blake humorously recounted during a post-game interview, expressing his thrill at scoring his first career NHL goal.

This goal also marked Dmitry Orlov’s 300th point in the NHL, making him the only active Russian-born defenseman to achieve this feat. However, the night belonged to the 21-year-old Blake, who had just joined the team’s roster a week prior. Blake’s performance silenced any doubts about his ability to maintain a spot on the team.

“Every day, I think I just get more comfortable,” Blake explained further. “I’m realizing that I think I belong here in this league, and I’ve got to show it every night. I think every day is a tryout. I felt comfortable tonight, and I think I’m just going to continue to feel that.”

Blake’s self-confidence has had its fluctuations, but he understands the importance of belief in sustaining his position with the team. “You’ve got to have faith in yourself,” he observed, noting the impressiveness of facing high-caliber opponents like Jack Hughes while acknowledging their shared humanity.

His teammates shared in Blake’s joy, with Shayne Gostisbehere commenting, “It’s awesome. Everyone’s going to remember your first goal. We might not remember this game, but Blaker will for the rest of his life,” demonstrating the camaraderie and collective pride surrounding his achievement.

Rod Brind'Amour, the head coach of the Hurricanes, echoed this sentiment post-game, reminding the team of the emotional impact such moments can have on players. “You kind of forget sometimes how emotional the game can be, and how much it means to (him),” he stated.

The Hurricanes claimed a 4-2 victory over the Devils, with Blake’s goal contributing to extending their lead. This game marked Blake’s debut goal after being drafted 109th overall by Carolina in 2021 following his time at the University of North Dakota. The Hurricanes have now won their second game of the season after an initial loss to Tampa Bay.

New Jersey’s goals included a score from Jack Hughes, which occurred early in the second period to give the Devils an initial lead. However, Carolina’s successful penalty kill and subsequent scorers secured their eventual victory.