It’s back on and we’re pumped for this one. The Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils are facing off in the 1st round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s the 3rd time these teams will meet in the postseason, and just like in 2023, there’s plenty on the line.
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That last series? Carolina dominated. Five games. A clinic in defensive structure and playoff execution. But this year, New Jersey’s coming in faster, deeper, and more battle-tested — and they’re not about to let history repeat itself without a fight.
Game 1 is locked in for April 20 at Lenovo Center, and if their regular season series was any indication, this one’s going the distance.
The Hurricanes have been one of the NHL’s most consistent teams all season. They finished with a solid 53-22-7 record and 113 points which is good for 2nd in the Metropolitan Division. And as always and to be expected, they did it their way — with relentless forechecking, clean breakouts, and defensive discipline.
Up front, Sebastian Aho continues to be the engine of the offense. He had 92 points this year which includes 38 goals, and he’s produced consistently against New Jersey as he’s notched 5 points in 4 games against them. Andrei Svechnikov is back to his hard-hitting, fast-skating self. He put up 71 points after battling injuries the last couple of years. And with guys like Martin Necas and Seth Jarvis rounding out the top 6, there’s more than enough firepower to cause problems for any team.
But Carolina’s real strength lies on the back end. Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns anchor a deep blue line that can move the puck quickly, shut down top lines, and play with a physicality that’s almost unmatched by anyone else. Add in Dmitry Orlov and Sean Walker to the mix, and the Canes have 4 of the most reliable defensemen who can eat minutes in any situation.
In the crease, they’ve got options as well. Frederik Andersen is likely to get the nod in Game 1, especially after going 3-0-0 against the Devils this season. However, if needed, Pyotr Kochetkov is a steady backup with a solid .911 SV%. Either way, we don’t see Carolina losing sleep over who’s between the pipes.
Special teams? Nothing less than elite. Their power play unit ranks 5th in the league at 26.8%, and the penalty kill unit is even better as they’re 3rd overall at 85.2%. If this series gets whistle-happy, the Canes are in a strong position to make the most of them.
The only concern we have is with expectations. After a Conference Final loss in 2023 and a 2nd round exit last year, the pressure is mounting. The good news is that they’re not going to focus on that. They’ve built a veteran-heavy team. Now they have to deliver.
New Jersey’s not sneaking up on anyone this year. After their 2nd round flameout against these same Hurricanes in 2023, they retooled and it shows. They’re back and ready this time.
They finished with a 49-26-7 record and 105 points which is good for 3rd in the Metro. They also split the season series with Carolina 2-2 and actually outscored them 15-13 in those 4 games. The last meeting was a statement 6-3 win just a few weeks ago.
This team undoubtedly runs through Jack Hughes. He posted 94 points, including 36 goals, and was a headache for Carolina all season. His skating, hands, and vision make him one of the most dangerous players in the league off the rush and it’s easy to see why. And now that he’s healthy and well-rested, he’s ready to make a deeper playoff push and has the means to get past the Canes.
Nico Hischier gives the Devils a two-way anchor down the middle. He had 84 points on the season, plays on the PK unit, and wins tough matchups. Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier bring some secondary scoring depth and, in Meier’s case, some much-needed physicality for a series that’s going to get rough.
What’s even better for the Devils is Dawson Mercer, Alexander Holtz, and rookie Luke Hughes have added new layers to this team’s depth. Mercer especially has come alive down the final stretch of the season, and Luke Hughes provides offense from the blue line that Carolina has to respect or they’ll get burned.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe has also brought structure and discipline to a team that lacked both when they collapsed in 2023. The Devils aren’t exactly freelancing anymore and they know how to play with the lead and how to protect their goalie — well, sometimes.
Which leads to the big question — Who’s in the net?
If you’re looking for a clear edge in this series, it’s in the crease — and it undeniably belongs to Carolina.
Frederik Andersen has a proven playoff record and was strong against the Devils this year. His calm, positional style works well behind Carolina’s defensive system. If he falls a little flat, Kochetkov is more than capable of stepping in.
New Jersey, on the other hand, is still figuring things out. Jacob Markstrom was brought in to stabilize the position, but his numbers haven’t been that great with a 2.78 GAA and .904 SV% on the year, and he struggled against Carolina in the regular season. Those numbers are good enough to get into the playoffs, but they don’t really inspire a deep run. Jake Allen is the fallback option, but he hasn’t looked much better.
If one of them doesn’t step up fast, this series could slip away and the Canes could make quick work of the series.
Carolina’s got the edge here, too.
Their PK is absolutely elite, and they can frustrate power plays by denying zone entries entirely. Their power play doesn’t rely on any single player as they use movement and quick puck decisions to open up lanes and create high-danger looks. Martin Necas, who had 12 power-play goals, is lethal in that bumper spot and he’ll look to exploit it again.
New Jersey’s special teams are more of a hit-or-miss bunch. Their power play can score, especially if Hughes is dialed in, but their penalty kill is the shakier side of things. Ranked 22nd in the league at 78.9%, it’s not built to survive long stretches of time in its own zone — and Carolina’s forecheck will keep pushing and wearing them down.
The bottom line is that the Devils need to stay out of the box. If they don’t, this series could be over by Game 5.
That’s a lot to take in, sure, but there are a few battles that’ll define this series.
Aho vs. Hischier. This will be a 200-foot war every single night. Hischier’s job is to slow down Carolina’s most consistent scorer and if he can win that battle and still contribute offensively, New Jersey has a shot.
Burns and Slavin vs. Hughes and Bratt. Carolina’s top pair will have their hands full with New Jersey’s dominant speed. If Hughes can slip behind them in transition, the Devils should have no problem finding scoring chances off the rush.
Svechnikov vs. Meier. These two will clash all series — physically and on the scoresheet. We expect some fireworks from this matchup.
Goaltending Stability. As we mentioned, this is the one wild card New Jersey needs to win. If Markstrom or Allen gets hot — and Andersen falters — the entire tone of the series changes.
Coaching Adjustments. Brind’Amour without a doubt has the edge in playoff experience, but Keefe’s system has clearly improved the Devils. Who makes the right line tweaks in tight games? That’ll matter in a series like this.
As always, other storylines will most likely pop up throughout the series, but these are the 5 we’re keeping a close eye on as they can (and most likely will) affect the outcome of the series.
There’s no question this series is going to be close. The Devils are much faster, more experienced, and more complete than they were just 2 years ago. Their offense can score with anyone, and if Hughes and Hischier hit their stride early, they can tilt the series.
But overall, the Hurricanes are just a little more complete. Their defensive structure, dominant special teams, and steady goaltending give them a slight edge. They’ve been here before, they know how to manage playoff pressure, and they’ve built a system that doesn’t fall apart when things get messy. That’s what we like the most about the Canes heading into the series.
BettorsInsider’s Prediction: Hurricanes in 7 games
If Markstrom stands on his head, New Jersey can steal this first series and move on. But if things go as expected, Carolina’s depth and defensive discipline will carry them through and they’ll look to make a deep playoff push.
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