Post-Series Talk: Carolina Hurricanes defeat New Jersey Devils 4-1

[My3Sons]

NJ was not just missing Jack Hughes. The defense was decimated. Doumolin had to play over 37 minutes for them last night. While he looked pretty good he is not supposed to be the go to guy on the blueline. They will be back next season and likely a bit better overall and if they can go into the playoffs healthy they will make more noise. They battled hard after game one and that’s all you can ask for as a fan of the team. Best of luck to the Canes the rest of the way. Winning NHL playoff games is one of the hardest things to do in pro sports. All the players who participate and play hard deserve respect.

 

[qcal1427]

When are people going to start asking questions about the Devils. Yes they had a lot of injuries. It's not like they were playing well before those injuries though, and with J Hughes especially you kind of have to assume he's going to play max 60 games a season until he proves otherwise.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

Congratulations Canes, gotta give some props to a few players.

Jordan Martinok, the Devil killer, guy must really hate the Devils cause he always looks so good against us.

Freddie Andersen was really good when he played; he made several outstanding saves.

Slavin is a beast, just a fantastic player. He is a pleasure to watch, and he makes playing defense look easy. Just wish he weren't on the Canes.

Logan Stankhoven, I could swear there were two of him playing. I just kept hearing his name over and over again. Kid was everywhere playing well. Canes got nice player in that deal plus a boatload of picks.

Good luck Canes in the next round.

 

[My3Sons]

When are people going to start asking questions about the Devils. Yes they had a lot of injuries. It's not like they were playing well before those injuries though, and with J Hughes especially you kind of have to assume he's going to play max 60 games a season until he proves otherwise.

Plenty of posters here were quite dismissive of NJ. Maybe Jack Hughes is hurt every season but maybe not. You hope for the best but nobody can predict the future. In this particular series NJ was a goal away from at least going to six games. Now that the GM has seen what they have and need in an actual playoff series they can tinker with the lineup

 

[Jersey Fresh]

That's just not true.

After the miscarriage, he asked for a leave from the team and was granted it. The organization, players, and fans were very supportive of him and his wife during this time. The falling out came a while later when he was frustrated with his playing time and got in Brind'Amour's face about it giving him an ultimatum to play more minutes, and from everything I've heard, specifically threw other players under the bus in front of the whole team while ranting about it.

He was traded as soon as they could find a taker after this happened.

True, it's only subsequent to him leaving that Canes fans have repeatedly targeted him about his wife's miscarriage, including on this board.

As for the series, injuries aside, the series was almost entirely decided on special teams. Just couldn't get it going. I was surprised at the Devils managing to tilt the scoreboard with this roster 5 on 5.

 

[qcal1427]

Plenty of posters here were quite dismissive of NJ.

Yea I think there's a difference between being dismissive of their chances in this series (which I agree almost everyone was) and asking bigger questions about where the franchise is at. This is year 6 of the Hughes era and year 3 of the "best contract in the league" and they have basically nothing to show for it. Even when he was healthy they were mediocre at best for large stretches of the year and need some pretty significant surgery up front.

Maybe Jack Hughes is hurt every season but maybe not. You hope for the best but nobody can predict the future. In this particular series NJ was a goal away from at least going to six games.

That's an extremely generous way to look at this series where they got dominated from the second the puck was dropped game 1 and were probably lucky to not get swept.

Now that the GM has seen what they have and need in an actual playoff series they can tinker with the lineup

Did they not get that two years ago?

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Looks like devils were not able to scare the Canes after all. They were spooky for the game I attended in person at least (Game 3)

Prudential Center was rocking Game 3, it was really impressive

 

[Oilslick941611]

Is NJD a failed rebuild at this point ? You'd think with all their great players they would be able to at least win more than one game. I know Hughes is injured but still... Hard to see them compete in the near future.

I don’t think you can judge NJ off of these playoffs with how Hughes and some other important players where injured.

With the Hughes injury in particular and how late it was, it kind of made this result inevitable. Full credit to the canes but they played a team missing it best players.

 

[Oilslick941611]

A failed rebuild looks like Buffalo or Vancouver, not New Jersey. Not yet anyway. I’m not ready to write them off.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

True, it's only subsequent to him leaving that Canes fans have repeatedly targeted him about his wife's miscarriage, including on this board.

No one has targeted him about his wife’s miscarriage. That’s a gross statement to make.

He’s targeted because for a good couple of years (starting with the Nashville series), he laid questionable hits on Carolina players and really played up the heel aspect of the rivalry. It also helps that the Canes almost always seemed to face whatever team he was on in the playoffs (and subsequent eliminations of said team).

 

[Mgd31]

The result sucked and would have liked the Devils to bring it back home for another game, but happy they made it competitive after the game 1 drubbing.

The Canes are very good, even though this might not be the best squad they have had in recent years. I can still see them coming out of the East.

 

[tarheelhockey]

This needs to go in one of those “obscure but amazing trivia” threads.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

No one has targeted him about his wife’s miscarriage. That’s a gross statement to make.

He’s targeted because for a good couple of years (starting with the Nashville series), he laid questionable hits on Carolina players and really played up the heel aspect of the rivalry. It also helps that the Canes almost always seemed to face whatever team he was on in the playoffs (and subsequent eliminations of said team).

It's definitely gross, but not a misstatement. I've reported it here a few times, the last time being that game back in December. Goes without saying some of the stuff you'll see on twitter/reddit, of course.

Personally, I think it's pretty funny that a totally unremarkable player like Haula has had a multi-year hold on the psyche of Canes fans after playing for them for just 40 games. He himself has generally been complimentary about his time there, though he has obviously mentioned his personal family trauma and some injuries he dealt with there. I actually like him a bit more for leaning into it - imagine having hordes of fans in an absolute tizzy because you wore a mean bracelet. Why not have fun with that?

Anyway, if the Canes and Devils do meet again next season, I doubt Haula would be a part of it. I imagine they'll be looking for takers this summer.

 

[Mrb1p]

I don’t think you can judge NJ off of these playoffs with how Hughes and some other important players where injured.

With the Hughes injury in particular and how late it was, it kind of made this result inevitable. Full credit to the canes but they played a team missing it best players.

The problem is that Jack, as good as he is, isnt durable. Hes a band-aid boy. The rebuild kinda hinges on him being healthy and so far he hasnt shown that. Sadly.

 

[Nikishin al Gaib]

The problem is that Jack, as good as he is, isnt durable. Hes a band-aid boy. The rebuild kinda hinges on him being healthy and so far he hasnt shown that. Sadly.

And even when you talk about the guys who do play....

Pesce being injured like he was in the playoffs this year is just a result of the way he plays. He's a shot blocking master, but with that comes a tendency to be dinged up in the playoffs. We saw it firsthand while he was here, always dealing with some kind of nagging injury at this time of the year, and a couple years too hurt to play.

He's a complete warrior out there, can't deny that. Still wish we had him.

 

[gto64dr]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but I do have an opinion. Canes as a team play more interference than any team I've watched this year. Somehow the NHL ignores their own rulebook. They were the better team during this series but at least call the penalties that they commit.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It's definitely gross, but not a misstatement. I've reported it here a few times, the last time being that game back in December. Goes without saying some of the stuff you'll see on twitter/reddit, of course.

Personally, I think it's pretty funny that a totally unremarkable player like Haula has had a multi-year hold on the psyche of Canes fans after playing for them for just 40 games. He himself has generally been complimentary about his time there, though he has obviously mentioned his personal family trauma and some injuries he dealt with there. I actually like him a bit more for leaning into it - imagine having hordes of fans in an absolute tizzy because you wore a mean bracelet. Why not have fun with that?

Anyway, if the Canes and Devils do meet again next season, I doubt Haula would be a part of it. I imagine they'll be looking for takers this summer.

Did you miss the part where he’s 1-21 against the Canes and has been eliminated by them 4 times in a row?

He’s not exactly living rent free in anyone’s head. He’s a running joke among the fanbase, the equivalent of a WWE heel who exists solely to get pummeled.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Did you miss the part where he’s 1-21 against the Canes and has been eliminated by them 4 times in a row?

He’s not exactly living rent free in anyone’s head. He’s a running joke among the fanbase, the equivalent of a WWE heel who exists solely to get pummeled.

I'd love to agree with you, but I don't know that "running jokes" who totally don't occupy a weird space in fan's heads typically receive harassment and invective about something as personal as a miscarriage. Seems like something deeper. And as the other poster noted, the genesis of the acrimony/infatuation started before he played a game against Carolina after leaving.

Again, find it more weird/funny than anything.

 

[Fraser28]

I think the Canes will take down Washington too.

 

[My3Sons]

Yea I think there's a difference between being dismissive of their chances in this series (which I agree almost everyone was) and asking bigger questions about where the franchise is at. This is year 6 of the Hughes era and year 3 of the "best contract in the league" and they have basically nothing to show for it. Even when he was healthy they were mediocre at best for large stretches of the year and need some pretty significant surgery up front.

That's an extremely generous way to look at this series where they got dominated from the second the puck was dropped game 1 and were probably lucky to not get swept.

Did they not get that two years ago?

I think we fans are impatient but the reality is 23-27 year olds are relatively unfinished products as people even if that is their athletic peak. I’m sure the team would prefer to win the cup instead of poking along but it’s not often a linear progression. Thr problem as I see it is it’s hard to identify the full extent of thr problem. Is it goaltending? Markstrom was up and down but gave them a chance and was injured down the stretch so what to read into that? Is it the defense? Doumolin was their number one defender last night. You tell me if you think it’s fair to evaluate the defense with this spate of injuries. Up front they clearly need to add more scoring but without Jack Hughes they are obviously missing their best offensive player. They revamped the goaltending and the defense and presumably will take another look at the forwards.

My view is that NJ would have been much more competitive had they had their full complement of players. We will never know.

Sure they need work but any team missing all those players would likely have struggled. I don’t think you send out Hischier to fix the team or anything drastic. I’d move on from the overpriced vets and figure out how to improve the scoring

 

[tarheelhockey]

I'd love to agree with you, but I don't know that "running jokes" who totally don't occupy a weird space in fan's heads typically receive harassment and invective about something as personal as a miscarriage. Seems like something deeper. And as the other poster noted, the genesis of the acrimony/infatuation started before he played a game against Carolina after leaving.

Again, find it more weird/funny than anything.

I’m sure you’re as aware as I am that you’re talking about a literal handful of people who are nothing more than horrible internet people.

 

[Wierzbowski426]

One PO round won since they drafted Hischier, two PO appearances. Theyre young, but theyre not much younger than Carolina if you look at their core.

This guy is just mad that Hischier is a better player than suzuki. You can ignore these comments.

 

[dogbazinho]

True, it's only subsequent to him leaving that Canes fans have repeatedly targeted him about his wife's miscarriage, including on this board.

BS

 

[WreckingCrew]

True, it's only subsequent to him leaving that Canes fans have repeatedly targeted him about his wife's miscarriage, including on this board.

FALSE. No, it's subsequent to him and his wife trashing his teammates, the organization, and the city/fans. That and immediately and intentionally targeting our players in the first game he faced us...headshots, blindsided hits, all behind the play. The team & fans were actually incredibly supportive of him with what he was going through, and I can't really recall any Canes fans saying anything about his wife's miscarriage (maybe her personality/attitude)

 

[Hunter368]

Congratulations Canes fans