ECQF Preview: Your New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes - We're Playoff Bound!

[Davegarri]

I thought we had a legit advantage over them two years ago and we got shat on.

This year I don't think we have a legit advantage over them, but I sure hope we shat on them

f*** the Canes

 

[Oneiro]

Main difference is this team knows how to play defense (when they want to...). '23 I wasn't surprised at all.

Really just need to pull a Rags here and hope Marky / Allen give you their B+ minimum, then look for special teams.

 

[My3Sons]

Main difference is this team knows how to play defense (when they want to...). '23 I wasn't surprised at all.

Really just need to pull a Rags here and hope Marky / Allen give you their B+ minimum, then look for special teams.

Choose violence. In the NHL playoffs it's always the correct answer. If MacDermid wasn't such a passive player he could turn the series in NJ's favor. Rip Aho's helmet off on his first shift in game one and smash his head against the boards over and over until Aho passes out. Sure, NJ would have to kill a 2 minute minor but no Aho for the whole series would hurt Carolina. And what are they gonna do, fight him?

 

[BurntToast]

Punch them in the Face!!

Go out and win game 1. That turns the tables. It make’s game 2 a must win and puts the pressure on Carolina.

(The only issue with this plan is the Devils home record )

 

[Emperoreddy]

Punch them in the Face!!

Go out and win game 1. That turns the tables. It make’s game 2 a must win and puts the pressure on Carolina.

(The only issue with this plan is the Devils home record )

Our home record is better then their away record

 

[MartyOwns]

that would certainly be a choice...for keefe to just say we're going to lose game one, but we'll do it with unmitigated acts of violence, giving the hurricanes 87 powerplays in the process. ask each devils skater to bring a chipped bone fragment of their opponents to the locker room after the game, similar to elon scalps in inglorious basterds. i would thoroughly enjoy that...they're going to dive anyway, let's give them something to dive about.

 

[My3Sons]

that would certainly be a choice...for keefe to just say we're going to lose game one, but we'll do it with unmitigated acts of violence, giving the hurricanes 87 powerplays in the process. ask each devils skater to bring a chipped bone fragment of their opponents to the locker room after the game, similar to elon scalps in inglorious basterds. i would thoroughly enjoy that...they're going to dive anyway, let's give them something to dive about.

Bratt sitting in the corner of the locker room wearing a necklace strung from the severed ears of the Canes players will inspire the team. Cotter passing some craniums around the locker room to drink gatorade out of between periods will be fine until Noesen and Pesce and Haula and Hamilton realize some of those skulls belonged to their friends. They will get over it.

 

[FooteBahl]

Bratt sitting in the corner of the locker room wearing a necklace strung from the severed ears of the Canes players will inspire the team. Cotter passing some craniums around the locker room to drink gatorade out of between periods will be fine until Noesen and Pesce and Haula and Hamilton realize some of those skulls belonged to their friends. They will get over it.

That escalated quickly

 

[FooteBahl]

I thought we had a legit advantage over them two years ago and we got shat on.

This year I don't think we have a legit advantage over them, but I sure hope we shat on them

f*** the Canes

I think our current roster is a much “harder” playoff team than 2022-23. I see this being a long series either way.

 

[BostonDevil]

I feel better about the first round than I do about the next 4 games

 

[NJDevs26]

I feel better about the first round than I do about the next 4 games

Who cares about the next four games lol...pretty much all dead rubbers for every team in the game unless the Isles somehow stay alive through the next two games

 

[Devils731]

I think our current roster is a much “harder” playoff team than 2022-23. I see this being a long series either way.

Hopefully.

I think Fitz believes he purposefully sacrificed some regular season fun and effectiveness for improved rugged playoff performance.

I’m not sure I agree but hopefully he was right.

 

[The Wumpus]

je porte le chapeau bitches

 

[Devilsgrl35]

We're definitely going to be the underdog in this one. I like that, not as much pressure. Grab a game in Carolina, come back home tied and we have a series.

 

[BostonDevil]

Who cares about the next four games lol...pretty much all dead rubbers for every team in the game unless the Isles somehow stay alive through the next two games

Correct. I would have said the said the same thing about a month ago as well. Looked dicey for a bit when Jack went down (and even before) but they did just enough to hold that #3 seed.

Now the season starts

 

[OmNomNom]

our younger core has experienced playoff hockey and know what it was like to play the canes under Brindamour, so no doubt they'll be ready to not lay an egg

 

[Basement Cat]

Looking at Dillon to step up come playoff time. Refs will put the whistles away and he is going to clear that front of the net by any means necessary.

 

[glenwo2]

I look forward to see a Jesper Bratt that will CONTRIBUTE this time around instead of only managing a measley EN goal.

I want to see him dominate.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

The Devils are definitely underdogs going into the series, however, I believe they’ll give them a tougher series than the last time they met. We do have some key injuries but the defense is improved, goaltending is better and I believe they got tougher since two years ago. We need to keep the games tight and key guys coming up big and maybe a hero from the bottom lines would be nice. That’s a lot to hope for, but that’s why they play the games.

 

[Clam Jensen]

I look forward to see a Jesper Bratt that will CONTRIBUTE this time around instead of only managing a measley EN goal.

I want to see him dominate.

He had that nasty pass to Dougie in OT that completely changed the complexion of the series too!

 

[theoptimist]

I look forward to see a Jesper Bratt that will CONTRIBUTE this time around instead of only managing a measley EN goal.

I want to see him dominate.

I give him credit for the primary assist on Dougie's ot goal

 

[HoliksGhost]

I look forward to see a Jesper Bratt that will CONTRIBUTE this time around instead of only managing a measley EN goal.

I want to see him dominate.

He’s definitely bulked up a bit.

 

[JK3]

Canes have a very mid record down the stretch, they're a big yawn (as usual) as far as anything goes. No reason to fear these perennial frauds, they can eat a meth filled dick.

 

[Whaddagoal]

I look forward to see a Jesper Bratt that will CONTRIBUTE this time around instead of only managing a measley EN goal.

I want to see him dominate.

It's a very much improved Jesper Bratt this time around. He is much more engaged physically, and holds a lot more puck swagger than before, stronger on the boards, corner, takes a hit well.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I have a hard time seeing how this team can beat the Canes if the 2022-2023 team that was dully healthy and made team history lost in 5.

At the same time I think I trust our defense, structure and breakout more this year… Who knows?

I posted a mini analysis about this somewhere. This team is completely different from the '23 team. Also, completely different playstyle and coach. All for the better ofc.

Not to say that means they will definitely win, but that '23 team has nothing to do with the '25 team.