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

[Ekiru]

Man the official clinched picture is a little sad when you notice they just have Jack and Dougie de-emphasized and standing in the corner because they are hurt

Would have been hilarious if they put them in, but with street clothes or whatever they wore at the Devils Gala lol

 

[thebeernerd]

If it was possible to be swept in three, we'd do it.

 

[Hisch13r]

If it was possible to be swept in three, we'd do it.

I think we might be saved from a fate like this because of Carolina being mid

 

[My3Sons]

then don’t watch man. what’s the point of this? so you can get everyone here to agree with you and collectively give up and just circle jerk shitting on them? so everyone can pat you on the back and say you were right after they get eliminated?

no one here is saying they’ll win the cup. no one here is 100% thrilled with the job fitz is doing, most agree the lack of depth is unacceptable, drafting has been poor and the team has underwhelmed since december.

the difference is most of the conversation here is thoughtful and intelligent in approaching these points.

we have a series lined up against a team that we should consider one of our top rivals, and the strengths we actually do have - goaltending, defense and special teams actually compare favorably with their weaknesses. it’s gonna be tough and we’re not favored to win, but a hot goalie and strong defense can win games. they’ll still *probably* lose, but this loser mentality shit is tired af. i’d rather just enjoy a round of playoff hockey

"most of the conversation here is thoughtful and intelligent"- have you actually read any of my posts?

 

[thebeernerd]

I think we might be saved from a fate like this because of Carolina being mid

We can't even manage that right now.

 

[Cheddabombs]

We're just saving all our wins for the playoffs!

 

[NjDevsRR]

It is weird how we haven’t played our playoff opponent in four months. Looking back in our recent history, this length between games has never happened before. Only the Panthers is similar.

Last Regular Season Matchup

2025
Hurricanes: December

2023
Rangers: March
Hurricanes: March

2018
Lightning: March

2012
Rangers: March
Flyers: March
Panthers: January

2010
Flyers: March

2009
Hurricanes: April

2008
Rangers: April

 

[Hisch13r]

We can't even manage that right now.

Agreed but a bad team can beat or at least take a game off a mid team. Now if we were in the Atlantic yeah I think TB would absolutely shred us. They’re a terrifying team.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

Yeah yeah and Detroit was supposed to sweep us in 95.

Bring it on.

Playoff Slogan: Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what makes you cheer.

 

[theoptimist]

players aren’t going to put their bodies on the line and risk injury the same way when the reality is the outcome of the game changes absolutely nothing for them. that’s just how it is. if one of our guys got hurt in one of these games and misses the playoffs you’d be complaining about that too.

Do you remember when Bratt didn’t block that shot during Game 4 against the Canes? Sent these boards spiraling. We explained the series loss to the Canes as group that was tired after a hard fought series against NYR, what’s next?

 

[Dialamo]

Yeah this thread sucks. It was supposed to be a playoff hype thread, not a doom and gloom, pissing and moaning for a week straight thread. Get on board or GTFO.

Playoffs are a fresh start and even if the consensus is that Carolina are the favorites, we still have a chance to win.

Like I said earlier in this thread:

Devils in 5, you heard it here first.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Do you remember when Bratt didn’t block that shot during Game 4 against the Canes? Sent these boards spiraling. We explained the series loss to the Canes as group that was tired after a hard fought series against NYR, what’s next?

How about we actually see what happens in this upcoming series first before we start hypothesizing about that?

I know there are some on this board that can't wait to pat themselves on the back if Carolina comes out victorious. I hate to break it to that crowd but the higher seed or favorite doesn't always win.

Most people here are pretty grounded about what might happen given our record since the new year started. But if you can't actually get invested in being in the playoffs and starting fresh, then I don't know what to tell you. This is when the sport is the most fun. And we've largely been deprived of that for the past decade and a half.

 

[MartyOwns]

doom and gloom in a hype thread? right to jail. using the word mid? right to jail, right away.

 

[None Shall Pass]

All I can say about the Doomers is that a few months ago when they were whining about CBJ potentially catching us (lol), I made an open bet for a username change that it wouldn't happen.

No one took me up on it. They don't even believe their own slop.

They are fundamentally unserious human beings. You can safely ignore them and not waste the synapses that your brain produces to read their worthless letters on the screen. They don't actually care about what they say, why should you?

 

[Nocashstyle]

You all are giving Carolina way too much credit. They probably still win, but I genuinely think it’s going to be a competitive series. I think the Devils still easily clear Carolina as far as top end game breaking talent, even with Jack out. Their goaltending is shoddy as well.

Even with their already thin high end offensive talent, they downgraded from Necas to Stankoven. Aho is better than Hischier, but not by much. They don’t have offensive game breakers like Bratt or Luke on the backend.

What they do have is insane depth and Jacob Slavin.

They’ve also been viewed as contenders for the last several seasons and could not get it done when it mattered. They’re going into the playoffs with an even weaker on paper team than years prior.

In a short series, the better goalie and game breaking offense can get it done.

And as far as the past few game…I hardly even tuned in to watch because of how meaningless the games were. Why would the players feel any different?

 

[MasterofGrond]

I think if the team didn’t drop 3 strait games against non-playoff teams in uninspiring fashion as they gear up for the playoffs the mood would be different.

it's called getting the losses out of the way, smh

 

[Bleedred]

It is weird how we haven’t played our playoff opponent in four months. Looking back in our recent history, this length between games has never happened before. Only the Panthers is similar.

Last Regular Season Matchup

2025
Hurricanes: December

2023
Rangers: March
Hurricanes: March

2018
Lightning: March

2012
Rangers: March
Flyers: March
Panthers: January

2010
Flyers: March

2009
Hurricanes: April

2008
Rangers: April

Coincidentally, the Rangers and Hurricanes were our regular season finale in 2008 and 2009. And I believe we were already locked into those matchups before game 82, but I’m not completely sure about that.

 

[Incharge1976]

Meanwhile, our opponent is 1-4-1 in their last 6 including a 4 goal loss to Boston and a shutout loss to Buffalo. But they're Carolina, so they get a greater benefit of the doubt.

I don't know, I am simply going to see how the series itself plays out. I'm more concerned with our health and how we'll play from the start in Carolina vs. what we do in these final games of the regular season.

They have been locked into the 2nd spot for awhile, so I'm not going too much off that.

 

[Satans Hockey]

I hate the Canes, but not like I hate the Rangers. I am very glad that no matter what happens in this playoff series, I am not going to feel the Bad Lieutenant level of existential dread like I did after the first 2 games against the Rangers in 2023. I will be satisfied if they win 2 games, and the only thing that could disappoint me is a sweep against. If they win, fantastic, I hate the Canes and it's been entirely too long since they won a playoff round against them.

Absolutely, thankfully we aren't remotely close to Carolina and don't have to deal with their fans in a way we have to deal with the pukes in blue. And basically everyone here except the few that live down there don't have family and friends and coworkers who are fans of Carolina like we do the Rangers so it's much easier in the regard too.

 

[Better Call Sal]

They have been locked into the 2nd spot for awhile, so I'm not going too much off that.

Again, convenient for them. But for us, according to some, we've squeaked in and our circumstances are different because we're not as good. Some people want it both ways.

 

[Satans Hockey]

Coincidentally, the Rangers and Hurricanes were our regular season finale in 2008 and 2009. And I believe we were already locked into those matchups before game 82, but I’m not completely sure about that.

That Devils Rangers game decided who got home ice though, if we lost in regulation Rangers would have had home ice. Not that home ice did us any good that year anyway.

 

[Nocashstyle]

Again, convenient for them. But for us, according to some, we've squeaked in and our circumstances are different because we're not as good. Some people want it both ways.

“I’m so fed up with this team being awful year after year and being out of the playoff picture by Christmas”

*makes the playoffs

“No! Not like that!”

 

[Clam Jensen]

“I’m so fed up with this team being awful year after year and being out of the playoff picture by Christmas”

*makes the playoffs

“No! Not like that!”

Some people will only be happy if the devils go 98-0 with a team xG of over 60% every game, pristine goaltending, shut down defense, and score over 5 goals a game.

 

[My3Sons]

Again, convenient for them. But for us, according to some, we've squeaked in and our circumstances are different because we're not as good. Some people want it both ways.

Some guys pay big money for that

 

[MB3]

DK has the devils at +200 to win the series. That's underdog status, for sure, but hardly non-competitive hockey. Moneypuck has the devils at 38.7% Maybe vegas + stats is wrong and we get swept with four 10-0 games, but man even that would be better than another decade in the wilderness.

why even be a sports fan if you're incapable of hope?

Yay! I was wondering when the first “don’t be a fan if you’re going to be negative” post of the day was going to be.

I’m not incapable of hope. But when I invest time and money (lots and lots of money) on a hobby I am perfectly well within my rights to post about my displeasure on a F*CKING INTERNET MESSAGE BOARD.