Hurricanes, Devils meet in 2nd spherical of NHL playoffs

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes pushed by way of a first-round sequence within the Stanley Cup playoffs with sufficient time to let their injury-hit lineup recharge earlier than dealing with their subsequent opponent.

The psychological break was simply as necessary, too, earlier than taking up a New Jersey Devils crew lower than 48 hours faraway from a Game 7 win to advance.

“We’ve had time to kind of slow down and take a breath,” coach Rod Brind’Amour stated Tuesday. “Sometimes that gets you on your heels a little bit, but I think overall, mentally, it was needed.”

The Hurricanes closed out the New York Islanders in a six-game sequence on Friday evening. They host Game 1 of the second-round sequence on Wednesday evening, with the Devils having performed twice to eradicate the New York Rangers for the reason that Hurricanes final took the ice, together with Monday evening’s 4-0 win.

“I can tell you from my experience that I would rather just keep this thing going, keep the schedule, keep it every other day than having four or five days and you’re trying to simulate games and maybe what your opponent may look like,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff stated. “We’ve got our game at a high pace.”

The matchup pairs the highest groups within the Metropolitan Division; the Hurricanes gained the ultimate recreation of the common season to edge the Devils within the standings.

With Boston gone in a first-round stunner after a record-setting common season, both the Hurricanes (113 factors) or the Devils (112) could have home-ice benefit all through the remainder of the playoffs after Round 2.

IN NET

The Devils obtained loads from 22-year-old netminder Akira Schmid within the Rangers sequence regardless of the very fact he had performed simply 24 regular-season video games over two seasons.

The Hurricanes have used a rotation with Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta. Raanta obtained the beginning for the primary 5 video games of the Islanders sequence, then Andersen allowed one aim within the Game 6 win after coming back from a quick sickness.

Andersen missed final yr’s playoffs on account of damage in his first season with Carolina.

“For me, I think it’s just that focus of not trying to do too much and trusting the guys,” Andersen stated. “I think we have the team that when everyone does that, it’s enough.”

HELLO AGAIN

New Jersey defenseman Dougie Hamilton will likely be dealing with his former crew. Hamilton performed on three playoff groups for Carolina earlier than signing with New Jersey in 2021.

Devils winger Erik Haula was acquired by Carolina in a 2019 commerce, however the Hurricanes traded him eight months later. This will mark the third straight yr he has confronted the Hurricanes within the playoffs – all with completely different groups – and he’s turn out to be a well-liked goal for fan angst in Raleigh.

“I’ve lost to them two years in a row in the playoffs,” Haula stated, “I know what they’re all about.”

HELP FROM EVERYWHERE

The Devils gained their first playoff sequence since 2012 by getting contributions from sudden sources.

Haula, who centered the third line a lot of the season, moved as much as left wing on the second line centered by Jack Hughes and led the crew with 4 objectives.

Ondrej Palat – who twice gained the Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay and signed a five-year take care of New Jersey – put an injury-marred season behind him by including two objectives and three assists. That included establishing the Game 7 winner by Michael McLeod, who had not scored since January.

More impressively, the Devils gained regardless of getting no factors from star ahead Timo Meier, who was acquired from San Jose on the buying and selling deadline.

FOURTH-LINE PRODUCTION

The Hurricanes obtained some high quality fourth-line play in opposition to the Islanders, together with the series-clinching sequence.

It began with Derek Stepan reaching ahead as he skated down a clearing try on the blue line to maintain the puck within the zone. He despatched it forward to Paul Stastny, who beat Ilya Sorokin from a pointy angle on the proper. It was Stastny’s second straight recreation with a aim.

“I look at our line and how I felt like our last (two) games as a line have been really good,” Stepan stated, including: “Your job is sometimes difficult as a a fourth line but you have to just understand it might it just be that little moment like Game 6.”

DISCIPLINE

New Jersey dedicated 28 penalties and allowed 5 power-play objectives in opposition to the Rangers. However, New York managed only one power-play aim within the remaining 5 video games. The Devils killed off all 18 energy performs of their 4 wins.

“It’s probably too much, but sometimes I think there were some pretty soft calls I would say,” Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler stated. “I don’t know why, but we’ve got to stay disciplined and focus on our game. We can’t get mad or frustrated at the refs.”