Hurricanes Clash with Devils in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Playoffs

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes kick off their seventh consecutive Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance today, hosting the New Jersey Devils in Game 1 of the first round at Lenovo Center. The matchup marks a significant start to the 2025 postseason for both teams.

Carolina, which claimed the No. 2 seed in the Metropolitan Division, has consistently advanced through the playoffs since 2019, including reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2019 and 2023. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour emphasizes a balanced and aggressive game plan that relies on a strong forecheck and cohesive team play.

“I think we play a pretty consistent game. We’ve got good balance. We rely on all 20 guys,” Brind’Amour said. “We’re just not built that way to rely on one thing.”

The Hurricanes have successfully won at least one series in each of their prior playoff runs, solidifying their status among the four teams with the longest active playoff streaks. They aim to break through to the final round, a challenge that remains elusive partly due to their struggles to generate scoring in tightly contested matches.

The Devils, seeded No. 3 in the Metropolitan Division, enter the playoffs with renewed confidence, having improved significantly over the season under coach Sheldon Keefe. This postseason marks their third playoff appearance since 2012, having faced the Hurricanes in the second round two years ago, where they were eliminated.

“We’ve been having an eye toward [Carolina] for a while,” Keefe said. “We know what we’re in for. It’s going to be a difficult test.”

New Jersey will face challenges of its own during the series, particularly with the absence of top center Jack Hughes. However, they aim to counter with a balanced offensive attack that has seen several players step up in Hughes’s absence, including Jesper Bratt, who led the team in points during the regular season with 88.

The game will see both teams’ goaltending strategies come into play, as Carolina chooses to start veteran Frederik Andersen, who carries a playoff experience into the series. His counterpart for New Jersey, Jacob Markstrom, also aims to be a stabilizing force in net.

As the series progresses, managing matchups will be key for both teams, especially with the Devils playing on the road, where they won’t have the last change on lineups. This aspect gives the Hurricanes an advantage in strategic face-offs.

The complete series schedule has Game 1 this afternoon, followed by Game 2 in Raleigh on April 22, and the series will shift to Newark, New Jersey, for Games 3 and 4 starting April 25. If necessary, Games 5, 6, and 7 will take place from April 29 to May 4.

The matchup promises to deliver an exciting start in the quest for the Stanley Cup, with both teams eager to show their strength in the first round and make a statement early in the playoffs.