NEWARK, N.J. -- Jeff Skinner continued his recent goal-scoring splurge Saturday night at the Prudential Center, helping the Carolina Hurricanes keep their faint playoff hopes alive with the game-winning goal in a 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

"That's a big win for us," said Skinner, who has goals in five straight games and points in six (seven goals, two assists). "When you are going like this, you also have to be successful as a team and as a line. Hopefully, we can keep that going."

With the score tied 1-1 midway through the third period, Skinner stripped the puck from Devils captain Andy Greene at the Carolina blue line and streaked down the ice on a breakaway. Skinner proceeded to beat Devils goalie Cory Schneider for his 30th goal of the season at 9:31 of the period.

"It was a slow roller coming out there, and I saw him at the last minute," Greene explained. "Obviously (Skinner) made a good play there with the poke check, and, unfortunately, it cost us the goal."

Sebastian Aho sealed the win for the Hurricanes (33-27-13) with his second goal of the night and 23rd of his rookie season at 16:46 of the third period.

Eddie Lack made 26 saves for the Hurricanes, who remain five points out of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference with nine games left. Carolina has at least one point in its last 10 games (7-0-3).

"I thought we had tired legs, but (Skinner) came up huge for us when he needed to," said Lack, who has won his last four starts. "He has been so good for a long time now. It’s fun to watch."

The loss, their fourth in the last five games, officially eliminated the Devils (27-35-12) from playoff contention in the East. It is the fifth consecutive year that New Jersey missed the postseason.

"It was a formality at this point," said Schneider, who made 25 saves. "I just think to lose games like this is more frustrating, though. It's tough."

After a scoreless first period, the Hurricanes struck first at 2:47 of the second period after n extended shift in the offensive zone. Aho buried a pass by Elias Lindholm from behind the goal line to make it 1-0.

The Devils tied the score before the second period was over, capitalizing on a Hurricanes turnover in the neutral zone.

Taylor Hall collected the errant puck and quickly transitioned the other way before finding Travis Zajac skating down the middle. Zajac beat Lack through the five-hole for his 14th goal of the season and first in 11 games at 17:03 to make it 1-1.

The teams traded chances in the third period, with Lack and Schneider making key saves, before Skinner made the biggest play of the night.

"It was a fortunate bounce to get the breakaway, making a move on (Schneider), and getting it over his pads," said Skinner, who reached 30 goals for the third time in his career. "Eddie made some big stops coming down the stretch and we were able to put it away."

The Hurricanes return home after this successful four-game road trip (3-0-1) and open an important four-game homestand on Monday.

"I kind of feel like the past 10 (games) have been a must-win for us," Lack said. "I feel like we just keep battling here and we'll just see where we end up. It is so much fun to play now when we have a chance and we're in it and battling."

NOTES: The Devils dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen as coach John Hynes opted to make RW Stefan Noesen a healthy scratch in favor of D Steven Santini, who returned to the lineup. ... New Jersey also scratched LW Michael Cammalleri (upper body), C Jacob Josefson (upper body) and RW Devante Smith-Pelly (lower body). ... Hurricanes C Elias Lindholm extended his point streak to 10 games (four goals, seven assists) with an assist on Sebastian Aho’s second-period goal. ... Aho has a six-game point-scoring streak (three goals, five assists). ... The Hurricanes scratched C Jay McClement (lower body), LW Valentin Zykov (upper body) and D Matt Tennyson.