2025 Stanley Cup Playoff Preview: Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils

The last time we saw the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they were taking on the Carolina Hurricanes. After a 112 point season and a great victory against their rival the New York Rangers, it wasn't tough to envision Jack Hughes and company continuing their precocious postseason run and defeating the structured grind-em-down Canes. It didn't work out. It wasn't even close. Carolina won the series in five games, and three of those wins were blow-outs in which the Devils failed to score more than a single goal. After an injury-filled slump year in 2023-24, New Jersey is back on track, but minus their franchise player. A season that should be squarely within their Cup window suddenly looks like it may be yet another lost year.

For much of the season, 2024-25 looked like an all-i