It was a difficult start for the New Jersey Devils in their postseason campaign, as they faced off against a familiar foe, the Carolina Hurricanes, in Game 1 of their first-round series. A 4-1 loss on the road in Raleigh was about as harsh a result as they could have imagined. Beyond the scoreline, the Devils saw their game plan unravel and, to make matters worse, more injuries plagued their lineup. With the stakes high and expectations even higher, this loss left many questioning just what went wrong for the Devils, and how they can regroup for Game 2.
The Hurricanes’ Trademark Playstyle Trumps the Devils
One thing that was clear from the opening puck drop is that the Hurricanes are, and have been, consistent in their approach. For over five years, since Rod Brind’Amour took the reins as head coach, Carolina has made their living off relentless forechecking, quick puck pressure, and a strategy that prioritizes low-danger shots over everything else. The recipe has worked for them for years, and yet, the Devils, who have played Carolina frequently in both the regular season and postseason, couldn’t find a way to adjust.
From the very beginning of the game, the Devils seemed caught off guard by Carolina’s pressure, failing to adjust in a meaningful way. Despite all their familiarity with the Hurricanes’ playstyle, New Jersey couldn’t seem to crack the code. The result was a sluggish, uncoordinated performance that saw the Devils heavily outshot in the first two periods—17-5 in the first, and 21-8 in the second.
The Devils’ defensemen struggled mightily on breakout attempts, looking slow and indecisive. At times, it felt as though New Jersey’s strategy was to simply dump the puck into neutral ice and hope for the best. And as anyone who’s watched Carolina play knows, that’s exactly what the Hurricanes want. They thrive off turnovers, quick transitions, and applying constant pressure to break down their opponent’s game.
While the Devils did generate a few chances in the third period, mainly due to the score effects, they were still vastly outclassed in terms of offensive zone time and shot quality. According to Natural Stat Trick, New Jersey’s 5-on-5 Expected Goals For% hovered just above 30% for the game. When your opponent controls the pace of the game like that, it’s no surprise that the scoreboard tilted heavily in favor of Carolina.
Injuries Only Make Matters Worse
As if a disastrous performance wasn’t bad enough, the Devils’ already injury-hit lineup was dealt even more blows during Game 1. Defenseman Brenden Dillon was the first casualty, leaving the game after a scary collision with William Carrier in front of the Devils’ net. Dillon, who struggled to regain his footing after the hit, was helped off the ice by trainers and eventually left for the locker room. Though the nature of the injury remains unclear, initial reports suggested a lower-body issue. However, some observers, including ESPN’s Ray Ferraro, speculated that it might have been a concussion-related injury, as Dillon appeared woozy after the fall.
Adding to the team’s woes, Luke Hughes and Cody Glass also suffered injuries in the third period. Hughes, who was involved in a collision that sent him crashing into his own net, appeared to clutch his shoulder before leaving the ice for the locker room. Glass, following behind Hughes, was also helped off the ice after taking an inadvertent hit from his own goaltender, Jacob Markstrom. Both players were not seen returning to the ice, leaving the Devils short-handed and even more depleted as the game wore on.
While Hughes managed to return later in the game, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be at full strength for Game 2. Dillon and Glass, however, could be more serious concerns, further straining an already thin Devils lineup. The lack of depth could be a major obstacle as the series progresses.
Hischier’s Late Goal Not Enough to Spark a Comeback
Despite the overwhelming pressure from Carolina, there was a glimmer of hope for the Devils in the second period when Nico Hischier scored a beautiful 4-on-4 goal to make it 3-1. However, that was the high point of the day for New Jersey. Although the Devils had a few more shots on goal in the third period, they were unable to break through, and Carolina’s defense and goaltender Frederik Andersen stood firm.
Andersen had an impressive game, stopping 41 of 44 shots for a .932 save percentage. While many of the shots were from low-danger areas, Andersen still had to make some key saves, especially with the Devils generating constant pressure late in the game. The Devils’ power play, which has been a weak point all season, did them no favors, and the inability to convert on man-advantage opportunities only compounded their frustration.
Line Adjustments and the Road Ahead
Head coach Sheldon Keefe shuffled the lines in response to his team’s struggles, including splitting up his two top forwards, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt, in an effort to spark some offense. Despite the changes, the Devils couldn’t find any consistency or rhythm. The third period saw the lines of Hischier and Timo Meier, along with Erik Haula and Dawson Mercer, trying to generate more offense, but it was clear that the Devils’ issues ran deeper than just line combinations.
As Game 2 approaches, the Devils will need to find a way to break out of the Hurricanes’ forecheck and generate more quality scoring chances. There’s no question that the team will have to be more prepared for the physicality and relentless pace of Carolina’s game. The key will be better puck movement from the defense and more support in the neutral zone from the forwards.
But the injuries—especially the uncertain statuses of Dillon, Glass, and Hughes—will cast a shadow over any plans for a quick turnaround. The Devils’ depth has already been tested, and without a full roster, they may find themselves on the back foot once again.
ESPN’s Broadcast Issues
While the Devils’ performance left much to be desired, the ESPN broadcast didn’t do much to help matters either. The broadcast repeatedly missed key replays, particularly during injury incidents, which only added to the frustration of the game. ESPN also struggled with its analysis, with Mark Messier offering little more than generic platitudes about team size and leadership, none of which seemed to speak to the real issues on the ice.
The lack of focus on the game itself left many viewers dissatisfied, especially given how important this matchup was for the Devils. The constant chatter about Jack Hughes’ absence, while undoubtedly significant, became an irritating talking point rather than a constructive discussion of the game unfolding before them.
Looking Ahead
Game 2 promises to be another tough challenge for the Devils. With the injuries mounting and the team needing to regroup, it’s hard to say whether New Jersey can bounce back on the road. They’ve had success against Carolina in the past, but they’ll need a much stronger, more focused effort if they hope to tie the series before returning to Newark.
One thing is certain: the Devils will have to figure out a way to counter Carolina’s unique style of play. They’ve had over five years of exposure to it, and if they still can’t find a solution, it’s hard to imagine how this series will play out in their favor.
As for the lineup, expect changes, especially with potential replacements for Dillon and Glass. New Jersey may need to call upon players like Simon Nemec or Dennis Cholowski to fill in on defense, while Curtis Lazar could step up if Glass is sidelined. The Devils will need all hands on deck, and it remains to be seen if the adjustments can spark the team to life in Game 2.
For now, the Devils’ focus will be on regrouping, recovering from injuries, and finding a way to get back in the series. The clock is ticking, and the road to the next round just got a whole lot harder.
