The New Jersey Devils find themselves in a precarious position in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Their first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes is not going according to plan, with the Devils now trailing 2-0 after two tough losses on the road. Despite some flashes of effort and promise, it’s clear that the Devils have yet to hit the level of play required to go toe-to-toe with one of the league’s most structured and disciplined teams. The hard truth? They simply haven’t been good enough.
Devils’ Playoff Struggles: Not Good Enough
For those who watched the series unfold, it’s hard to say this outcome is a total shock. In fact, many fans and analysts expected Carolina to present a significant challenge, with the Hurricanes boasting one of the most complete rosters in the league. While the Devils showed potential during the regular season, it’s becoming evident that they’re still not ready to compete on the same level as Carolina in the postseason. Through two games, the result is painfully clear: Not good enough.
In Game 2, the Devils had their chances. They could’ve potentially stolen a win on the road, but they failed to capitalize on key opportunities. Missed shots, poor decision-making, and a lack of execution at critical moments all contributed to their inability to close the gap. The margin for error is thin in the playoffs, and the Devils haven’t been sharp enough to turn the tide in their favor.
It’s not just about what the Devils haven’t done, but also what they have done wrong. Let’s break down the key issues that have contributed to the Devils’ two-game deficit.
Always a Step Behind: A Battle of Speed and Precision
One of the most glaring problems for the Devils in this series has been their inability to keep pace with the Hurricanes. Carolina’s aggressive forecheck and quick transitions have consistently left the Devils looking slow and reactive. While the Hurricanes have swarmed the puck with intensity and precision, the Devils have appeared sluggish and unsure when it comes to countering.
This isn’t just about physical speed—it’s also about hockey IQ, decision-making, and execution. The Devils have been consistently beaten to loose pucks and have struggled to win key battles along the boards. Carolina has been quicker to transition from defense to offense, while the Devils have been too often hemmed in their own zone, unable to break out cleanly. When the Devils have had possession, they’ve too often hesitated, allowing Carolina’s suffocating defense to take control.
Moreover, New Jersey’s defensive zone coverage has been questionable. The Devils have allowed Carolina to dictate the pace of play, and they’ve been unable to break through on the forecheck. Even when they’ve had possession, their attempts at setting up offensive pressure have been thwarted by Carolina’s ability to intercept passes and clog shooting lanes. This isn’t just a technical flaw; it’s a mindset issue—a lack of assertiveness and speed that has kept New Jersey from generating consistent offense.
Self-Inflicted Wounds: Turning a Blind Eye to Simple Mistakes
While the Devils have had their struggles on the ice, their chances of winning have been further reduced by their tendency to shoot themselves in the foot with preventable errors. In Game 1, New Jersey committed a too many men penalty, marking their seventh such infraction of the season. This was compounded by a delay of game penalty—another issue that has plagued them all year. While the Hurricanes’ power play isn’t among the league’s most dangerous, these self-inflicted wounds are the kinds of mistakes that are hard to recover from in the playoffs.
In Game 2, the Devils made yet another costly blunder on the power play. A poor decision by Timo Meier to pinch at the blue line allowed Carolina to score a shorthanded goal, a crushing blow to the Devils’ momentum. That mistake wasn’t a result of bad luck or a fortunate bounce; it was an example of a veteran player not executing the fundamentals. In the heat of playoff battle, the margin for error is razor-thin. Mistakes like these can’t happen if New Jersey hopes to have a chance at advancing.
Power Play Failure: A Golden Opportunity Missed
It’s no secret that New Jersey’s power play has been one of their most potent weapons throughout the regular season. But in the first two games of this series, the man advantage has been almost non-existent. The Devils have gone 0-5 with the power play through two games, and to make matters worse, their power play has actually become a liability. In Game 2, Carolina’s shorthanded goal was the ultimate example of what happens when a power play unit fails to execute. In a game where every goal matters, not capitalizing on such a significant opportunity is unforgivable.
While Carolina boasts the league’s top-ranked penalty kill, it’s still on the Devils to adjust, to outsmart their opponents, and to make the most of every chance they get. Special teams have been a backbone of New Jersey’s success all season, so the failure to produce with the man advantage is a particularly bitter pill to swallow.
Offensive Inability: Missing the Net and Missing Opportunities
Despite their struggles, the Devils have had ample chances to score. Unfortunately, they’ve been unable to convert on many of those opportunities. One of the most frustrating aspects of Game 2 was the team’s inability to hit the net. Whether it’s shooting wide or failing to get shots through Carolina’s defense, the Devils have been unable to make the most of their chances.
In the third period of Game 2, New Jersey had a number of golden scoring opportunities but couldn’t find the back of the net. Even the team’s most skilled players, like Dougie Hamilton and Timo Meier, missed key shots. Hamilton, in particular, took several shots on goal but only managed to hit the net once. This lack of precision in their shooting has cost them valuable chances in tight games, where every goal matters.
Carolina has been effective in blocking shots and getting in lanes, but it’s clear that the Devils are also compounding their own problems by not executing better. If they can’t even put the puck on net with consistency, their hopes of breaking through Carolina’s defense look increasingly slim.
Tom Fitzgerald’s Trade Deadline: A Missed Opportunity?
Looking back, one has to question whether the New Jersey Devils did enough at the trade deadline to address the team’s weaknesses. While they did add Cody Glass and Brian Dumoulin, the additions haven’t been enough to give the Devils the necessary depth to match up with a team like Carolina. Glass has been fine, but he hasn’t exactly been a game-changer, and Dumoulin’s presence on the blue line has been a small consolation given the team’s overall struggles.
The biggest issue, however, lies in the Devils’ bottom-six forwards. A mix of players such as Nathan Bastian, Tomas Tatar, and Daniel Sprong has not been effective throughout the season, and the additions at the deadline didn’t significantly improve this area. Carolina has been able to neutralize New Jersey’s bottom-six players, making the task of matching up in a playoff series even harder.
In hindsight, the Devils should have made a more aggressive push to add players who could contribute in key moments. The absence of a true third-line center or top-six scoring winger has been glaring, especially when matched up against a team as structured as Carolina. Given the Devils’ struggles, it’s clear that their depth has failed them at the most crucial time.
Not Good Enough—But Not Over Yet?
With the Devils trailing 2-0 in the series, it’s hard to be optimistic about their chances of advancing. While there’s still time to make adjustments and fight their way back into the series, the reality is that they need to be much better across the board to have any hope of upsetting the Hurricanes. Whether it’s tightening up defensively, improving their power play, or simply executing the little things that can make a big difference, the Devils have a mountain to climb.
In the end, the only question left is: will they be able to overcome their current shortcomings, or is this playoff run already over? So far, the answer is simple: Not good enough.