For the sixth time in NHL history, the Carolina Hurricanes and the New Jersey Devils are set to clash in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Their history in playoffs shows a clear advantage for Carolina, who have won their last four playoff series against the Devils, including a second-round victory in 2023, which they closed out in five games.
This upcoming series, a matchup between the second and third seeds in the Metropolitan Division, was highly anticipated this season. After the Washington Capitals took control of the division early in 2025, it became clear that the Hurricanes and Devils would likely face each other in the first round. Despite some shifting in seeding, with Carolina overtaking second place after New Jersey`s shaky start to the year, the Metropolitan Division standings remained relatively stable in the latter half of the season.
However, the expectations surrounding both teams heading into this series are quite different, adding an intriguing layer to this first-round matchup.
Here’s a look at what to expect as the Hurricanes and Devils prepare to battle in Round 1.
Head-to-Head Regular Season Records
Carolina Hurricanes: 2 wins, 2 losses, 0 ties
New Jersey Devils: 2 wins, 2 losses, 0 ties
Series Breakdown
Before diving into predictions for this playoff series, it`s worth noting that both teams faced challenges in March. Their performance in overcoming these hurdles might be indicative of what we can expect in their upcoming playoff confrontation.
The Hurricanes have consistently been playoff contenders throughout the season. Despite a potentially disruptive situation involving a trade for Mikko Rantanen, which created some uncertainty before the trade deadline, Carolina managed to recover. They finished the season strong, reaffirming their status as serious contenders.
A key strength for the Hurricanes has been their consistent play on both offense and defense, a stark contrast to the New Jersey Devils this season.
The Devils entered this season with high hopes of becoming true contenders. With a new head coach, Sheldon Keefe, a new top goalie, Jacob Markstrom, and a renewed focus on playoff success, the first half of their season reflected this optimism. In their first 41 games, they held second place in the Eastern Conference with a 24-14-3 record, tying for the league lead in regulation wins. Their offense was among the best in the league, and their defense was also solid, allowing the third-fewest shots per game.
However, their momentum was disrupted by Markstrom`s five-week injury absence in January, and further derailed by injuries to key players in early March. Top forward Jack Hughes and top defenseman Dougie Hamilton both sustained long-term injuries, along with defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler. While Hughes is out for the season, Hamilton has returned and is expected to play in Game 1.
The Devils` performance in the second half of the season has been noticeably weaker, with both scoring and wins becoming harder to come by. This offensive slump, combined with Carolina`s exceptional defensive capabilities, puts the Devils in a difficult position, especially given their key player absences.
One area where the Devils excel is special teams. While Carolina boasts the league`s best penalty kill, New Jersey is a close second with an 82.7% success rate. Additionally, the Devils have a strong power play, ranked third in the league, which significantly outperforms Carolina`s power play, ranked near the bottom.
Advanced Statistics
(5-on-5 data from Natural Stat Trick)
Regular Season Team Stats
Hurricanes X-Factor: Jaccob Slavin
The Hurricanes have many appealing aspects, including the emergence of young, talented players who have thrived with increased opportunities. Logan Stankoven, acquired in the Mikko Rantanen trade, has helped smooth over any issues from that deal and integrated seamlessly into the team. Rookie Jackson Blake has also been a pleasant surprise, hitting his stride at a crucial time.
However, despite the allure of these new stars, the Hurricanes` foundation is built on their strong defensive core, particularly Jaccob Slavin. This veteran defenseman leads the team in ice time, averaging 21:34 per game (which typically increases in the playoffs), and is an elite defensive player. Slavin is a major reason why the Hurricanes allow the fewest shots per game in the league and why their penalty kill is ranked first, operating at an 84.3% success rate. His role will be critical against the Devils` potent power play, which has remained a strong point for New Jersey throughout the season, finishing as the third-best unit in the league.
Devils X-Factor: Jacob Markstrom
Goaltending is always a critical factor in any playoff series, but it becomes even more crucial when a team enters the postseason without its top forward and best defenseman. In this situation, the performance of the goalie becomes paramount. After years of uncertainty in net, the Devils acquired veteran Jacob Markstrom last summer to address this need.
The question is, how far can Markstrom carry this team?
At the season`s midpoint, Markstrom was second in wins and goals-against average, only behind Connor Hellebuyck. He had 19 wins in 28 starts, with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.
His strong play continued into January but was interrupted by a five-week knee injury. (Any excitement about his return in early March was quickly dampened by injuries to Hughes and Hamilton.)
Since returning from injury, Markstrom has only recorded five wins in 13 starts, and his stats have declined significantly to a .869 save percentage and a 3.33 goals-against average. While not solely responsible for these numbers, if the Devils hope to overcome their lineup challenges and make a deep playoff run, they will need Markstrom to deliver outstanding performances and steal games.
