Hurricanes Host Devils in Game 1 of Second Round | PREVIEW
Game 1 of the best-of-seven series starts Wednesday night in Carolina
ByAmanda Stein and Sam Kasan / NewJerseyDevils.com
The Devils begin their Second Round series against the Hurricanes on Wednesday night in Carolina. The Canes host the Devils in Game 1 with puck drop at PNC Arena set for 7 p.m.
You can watch the game on ESPN or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.
Check back following morning skate for your pre-game story and pre-game videos. Read below for your game preview!
Siegenthaler - Hamilton
Graves - Marino
Bahl - Severson
Smith - Hughes
Schmid in the starter's end.
Timo Time?
Head coach Lindy Ruff said that forward Timo Meier "will be a game-time decision." He took part in the workflow at the morning skate in his usual spot with Dawson Mercer and Yegor Sharangovich.
"It will really depend on how he feels," Ruff added.
New Challenge
The Devils are facing a new team that presents a new and different challenge than their First Round matchup with the New York Rangers. Carolina plays with a lot of speed, but unlike New York, the Hurricanes are ferocious on their forecheck and very disciplined in their defensive zone structure.
"We're excited for a new series, we're excited for a new challenge and it starts tonight," captain Nico Hischier said. "A great team waiting for us again, starting at their barn. They're going to come out really hot. We have to be ready for that, matching their intensity. Other than that, focusing on our game and how we want to play. That's our mindset."
"Everything with them starts with work ethic and battles," forward Erik Haula said. "We have to be prepared to match and overcome that right from the start. They're a well-rounded team. They're one of the best defensive teams in the league. They work extremely hard, and they have some guys that can put the puck in the net as well. We have our work cut out for us."
With Carolina's relentless forecheck, the Devils know that perhaps the fate of the series will fall on exiting their zone.
"Breakouts will be a key for us. They have a really good forecheck," Hischier said. "They chip and dump pucks a lot and come with their speed. They're going to come at us. But if we support each other, we should be able to get away with it."
With the two teams may differ in their forecheck and D zone structure, both teams do like to play fast.
"I still feel if we play our game we're the better skating team. They have a lot of speed as well," Hischier said. "They're a good team. They're really good at what they do. They take pride in what they do. They don't give up a long. It's going to be hard to create some chances."
But the Devils have full belief in their own game.
"We're really in it now. We know there are only eight teams left," center Jack Hughes said. "Once you get one you try to get a snowball effect going. There's a lot of belief that we can get the second series win, too. We have a great opportunity tonight.
"We know they're a great team. We have a lot of respect for them, but a lot of belief in our room. We like how we're playing."
Awards Season
Last night, the NHL named two Devils players as finalist for two separate awards. Hischier was a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Award, which goes to the best defensive forward. While Hughes was named as a finalist for the Lady Byng award, going to the player who exemplifies gentlemanly conduct with a high level of play.
"I guess I'm doing something right. I got some recognition there," Hischier said. "That's my game. That's what I want to do. I started watching my idol, (Pavel) Datsyuk playing, he was a good two-way forward. That's the kind of player I want to be. I obviously take pride in it."
Hughes has only committed six penalties all season, a sign of of both gentlemanly conduct and high play.
"The thing with Jack is he has the puck most of the time. It's hard to take a penalties when you have it," Ruff said. "It's the game he plays. I think he's disciplined when he comes back. His play in his own end is good. He doesn't take stick in fractions or use his freehand. That's the discipline he has."
Staalwart
One matchup the Devils can expect is Hughes going against Carolina's Jordan Staal, who is himself one of the best shutdown centers in the NHL.
"They always ask who's the hardest player to play against in the NHL and I think he's up there in that conversation," said his former teammate Haula. "That speaks for itself. He's a horse. Just playing with him and watching him, he does it all. He's extremely hard to play against."
--Sam Kasan
PREVIEW
Game 1
TV: 7 p.m. ET; Televised on ESPN
RADIO: 7 p.m. ET; Live on Devils Hockey Network
SERIES SCHEDULE:
Game 1: Wednesday, May 3, 7 pm., at Carolina, ESPN
Game 2: Friday, May 5, 8 p.m., at Carolina, TNT
Game 3: Sunday, May 7, 3:30 p.m., at New Jersey, TBS
Game 4: Tuesday, May 9, 7 p.m., at New Jersey, ESPN
\Game 5: Thursday, May 11, time TBD, at Carolina, TNT
\Game 6: Saturday, May 13, time TBD, at New Jersey, ESPN
*Game 7: Monday, May 15, time TBD, at Carolina, ESPN
NJD: Goaltender Akira Schmid is coming off his second shutout of the post-season with a 31-save performance. Schmid posted a 4-1 record in the First Round, winning Games 3, 4, 5, and 7. Schmid finished the first round with a 1.39 goals against average and a .951 save percentage.
CAR: Stefan Noesen has been skating on the Hurricanes top line recently and is a big part of the Canes' first unit power play. In the First Round series against the Islanders, Noesen was a powerhouse on the power play with four points in six games.
By the Numbers:
Devils
Erik Haula finished the First Round as the Devils' leading scorer four goals and six points in seven games against the Rangers.
Nico Hischier had five assists in the seven games against the Rangers.
Jack Hughes had 32 shots on goal in the First Round series.
Michael McLeod had a team-best 62.03 percent faceoff efficiency.
Hurricanes
Sebastian Aho led the Hurricanes in the First Round against the Islanders with seven points (4g-3a) in six games.
Antti Raanta started the first five games of the series against the Islanders and posted a 3-2 record, with Frederik Andersen started Game 6 facing 35 shots and letting in just a single goal.
2022-23 Regular-Season Series Recap
The Devils and Hurricanes split their season series with two wins a piece. The Devils (2-1-1) had the edge in points over the Hurricanes (2-2-0).
The Hurricanes won the opening game of the four regular season meetings between the two teams, on Dec. 20, 2022. The two teams met on New Years Day in New Jersey where Carolina beat the Devils in the shootout, 5-4. The Devils won the final two games of the regular season between the clubs, first a 5-3 win in Raleigh and in the final game between the two clubs this season, New Jersey shutout Carolina in a 3-0 final with Vitek Vanecek posting the victory.
By the Numbers (Regular Season):
Devils
Set franchise records in 2022-23 with 52 wins and 112 points. The club also set an NHL record with a 49-point improvement from last season (82-game schedule).
The Devils led the NHL and set a franchise record this season with 26 comeback victories and nine multiple-goal comebacks.
The Devils tied a franchise record with 28 road victories this year, going 28-9-4.
The Devils had two 40-goal scorers on the roster: Hughes, 43; Timo Meier, 40.
The Devils had four 30-goal scorers: Hughes, 43, Meier, 40; Jesper Bratt, 32; Nico Hischier, 31.
Jack Hughes set a franchise record with 99 points (43g-56a) to best Patrik Elias' 96 points in 2000-01.
Tomas Tatar finished with a plus-41, a career high that ranked 5th in the NHL.
Dougie Hamilton's 22 goals tied Barry Beck (Colorado, 1977-78) for the most in franchise history.
Goalie Vitek Vanecek set a career high with 33 wins this season, joining Martin Brodeur as the only 30-win goaltenders in franchise history.
Hurricanes
For the sixth straight season, Sebastian Aho lead the team in goals with 36.
The Hurricanes set a franchise record with 59 goals this season from their blueliners.
Like the Devils, the Hurricanes finished the season with 52 wins. Carolina went 52-21-9 (113 pts)
Carolina had the fourth-best home record league-wide going 28-10-3 at PNC Arena.
