NHL Playoff Preview: Carolina Hurricanes v. New Jersey Devils

The Carolina Hurricanes are back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the seventh consecutive year. The second-ranked team in the Metropolitan Division will play the third-ranked New Jersey Devils.

This matchup marks the sixth time in franchise history that these teams have met for an NHL playoff series. Carolina is 4-1 in these matchups. In 2001, the Devils won the first-round series in six games. In 2002, Carolina won the first-round series in six games. Carolina took the Eastern Conference Finals in 2006 in five games. (The Hurricanes would win the Stanley Cup that year.) In 2009, Carolina won the first-round series in seven games, with Game 7 being dubbed “Shock At The Rock”. In 2023, Carolina took the series in five games.

This season, the regular-season series between these two has been split. Both teams have won at home, with Carolina winning 4-2 on October 15, 2024, and again 5-2 on December 28, 2024. New Jersey won 4-2 on November 21, 2024, and 4-2 again on December 27, 2024.

Devils star Jack Hughes will be out after shoulder surgery, initially sustaining the injury on March 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights. Hughes is expected to be back for training camp.

ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing – Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris as the discuss Gavin McKenna making the jump to the NCAA, Pittsburgh and San Jose making additions, and the NHL season to begin on October 7, 2025.

1. ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing 32:56
2. ITR 46: Offseason Chaos 24:53
3. ITR 45: Everything Is Happening 37:46
4. ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again 56:17
5. ITR 43: It's Winning Time 39:10