Devils Face Elimination Against Powerful Hurricanes in Game 5

NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils are searching for answers as they look to halt their futile power play against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Tuesday. Trailing 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, the Devils are 0-for-12 on power plays and have mustered only 14 shots on goal while a man up.

“I think their penalty kill is very unique to the League, obviously better than everyone else’s, and it takes away a lot of the things that our team thrives on and that’s been a challenge,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said. New Jersey will play at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The Devils, who finished the regular season with the third-best power-play percentage at 28.2 percent, have struggled to find that same success in the playoffs. Forward said, “Special teams has been one of our best things all season long and just because we haven’t got the puck in during this series, [it] hasn’t changed our confidence.”

After a 5-2 loss in Game 4, where the Devils went 0-for-2 on the power play, there was some speculation that the absence of their top center, Jack Hughes, has impacted the unit. Hughes has been sidelined since a season-ending shoulder injury on March 2.

Despite his absence, New Jersey’s power play was among the league’s best throughout the season, ranking tied for first in efficiency. One forward noted that the team must now adjust and stay mentally strong. “You’ve got to make adjustments but [you’ve] got to get your head right and make the plays with confidence,” he said.

As the Devils prepare for this pivotal game, they aim to loosen their grip on the sticks and enhance their playmaking to capitalize on the scoring opportunities they do get. Team captain stated, “Obviously Jack is a guy you can’t replace. He’s a guy that makes those little slip plays, sees the ice very well. Yeah, we miss him.”

The Hurricanes have consistently been one of the top penalty-killing teams, ranking first in efficiency this season at 83.6 percent. Bratt added, “Carolina pressures really hard; they’ve just perfected their way of doing it.” The Devils will need to exploit any breakdowns in the Hurricanes’ tight coverage to keep their hopes alive in the playoffs.