Samsonov streaked down the boards to chase down a pass from Scott Walker, threw the puck toward Martin Brodeur and then slipped the rebound past the goalie's stick for the winner - his fifth goal in eight games.
Brian Gionta scored for New Jersey, which remained atop the Atlantic Division by picking up a point for the ninth straight game. The Devils are 7-0-2 in their last nine.
Martin Brodeur made 34 saves, including 12 in a furious third period for the Devils, while Cam Ward turned aside 23 shots for Carolina.
The Devils took a 1-0 lead early in the second period when Gionta skated down the right side and centered a pass that clicked off Carolina defenseman Bret Hedican's stick and into the net. Samsonov tied it 4 minutes later when he poked the rebound of Keith Aucoin's wrist shot past Brodeur.
Carolina center Tuomo Ruutu, acquired earlier in the day from Chicago for Andrew Ladd, arrived at the RBC Center about 15 minutes before the opening faceoff. On his second shift, he delivered a hard check to Colin White in the corner, setting the tone for a physical first period that produced no goals but several fights of varying degrees of violence.
