Devils Enter Eye of the Storm in Carolina | PREVIEW

New Jersey are back on the road for a one game trip, visiting the Carolina Hurricanes. 

You can watch on MSGSN or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.

Read below for your game preview and pre-game story below.

PRE-GAME STORY

RALEIGH, NC - The Devils enter the eye of the storm in Carolina tonight, facing a team in a town where New Jersey has had their fair share of struggles. It will be, as it always is, a tough battle against the Hurricanes.

"They’re a team that’s on a pretty good run right now, they’ve won four of their last five," head coach Lindy Ruff said, "We understand, we’ve played them five games in the playoffs, they’re a team that they’ve got a real mobile defense. You really have to be diligent about not letting their defense beat us up ice. We have to do a better job of takign some of their time away.

In particular, Ruff is looking for a stronger physical game from his players along the walls. 

“They come down the walls hard, our wingers are going to have to win battles," he said, "You win battles, or you don’t let them win the battle, at least tie it, it’s going to give us a chance to break out of the zone. We know what we have to do better and if we can win that support game coming back up ice and win our shares of battles on the wall, we know we’re not going to win them all, but we have to win more to be able to beat this team.”

In every aspect of the game the Devils will need to be sharper, particularly in the power play where the club is currently on an 0-for-18 stretch and 2-for-34.

“That was the area late in the game (against Calgary) that could have really helped us,” Ruff said, “It’s a big deal against these guys tonight, too. They’re an incredibly hard-pressing penalty killing team, where they’re going to force you into two or three good passes, if you don’t execute, it’s going down the ice. Probably the most aggresive penalty killing team in the league. I think they do because they’ve got really good skating defensemen. Our power play is going to have to find a way to make sure our first couple passes are good and attack when you’ve caught them with the pursuit they’re using.”

PREVIEW

DEVILS (25-21-3) vs. HURRICANES (29-16-5)

Head-to-Head

This will be the second meeting between the two clubs, with the final of the three-game series set to occur on March 9 in New Jersey. In their previous meeting on Jan. 25, the first between the two clubs since the 2023 Second Round playoff matchup, the Devils suffered a 3-2 defeat to the Canes.

Nico Daws started the matchup in net, allowing three goals on 12 shots before Vitek Vanecek replaced him. Vanecek made 11 saves. Justin Dowling and Jesper Bratt scored for New Jersey.

Sebastien Aho, Tuevo Teravainen, and Jordan Staal scored for Carolina.

Devils Team Scope:

The Devils are trying to find some rhythm in the latter half of the season to claw their way into a Wild Card spot. New Jersey is currently five points out of the second and final Wild Card spot, currently held by the Detroit Red Wings (58 pts.)

Jack Hughes returned to the Devils lineup on Thursday after missing 11 games with an upper-body injury. With the return of Hughes, the Devils injury list became one player shorter and could soon have even fewer names on the list. Defenseman Brendan Smith skated with the team on Friday and although he is not ready to return to play, head coach Lindy Ruff suggested his timeline has now switched to day-to-day.

Jesper Bratt leads the charge in points for the Devils, with 55 points (20g, 25a) in 49 games, followed by Jack's 45 points (15g, 30a) in 33 games.

Tyler Toffoli leads the pack in goals scored with 21 and Luke Hughes leads all defensemen with 26 points.

Hurricanes Team Scope:

The Carolina Hurricanes approaching 30 wins this season, having won game 29 on Thursday night against the Colorado Avalanche. The Canes sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 63 points, four points behind the Rangers for the top spot and three points ahead of the third-place Flyers.

On Thursday, Martin Necas recorded his first career hat trick to bring him up to 34 points this season, ranked third on the team.

Sebastian Aho has been more than a point-per-game player with 56 in 57 games played with his 18 goals leading Carolina.

By the Numbers:

• Martin Necas has eight points (seven goals, one assist) in seven games since missing five games with an upper-body injury.

• Jesper Bratt is on a point streak of six games where he's amassed nine points. Bratt is coming off a 3-point night against the Flames and has four goals and five assists over the six-game stretch.

Injuries:

Devils

Hamilton - torn pectoral, LTIR
Siegenthaler - broken foot, IR
Smith - knee, day-to-day

Hurricanes

Pesce - illness, day-to-day
Svechnikov - day-to-day
Andersen - blood clotting, IR