Runnin' With The Devil...The Keys to a Deep New Jersey Playoff Run

Published: Sunday, April 13, 2025

by Ryan Nelke

The New Jersey Devils have punched their ticket to the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Playoffs after a wild, up-and-down year.

It has certainly been a rollercoaster ride for this team; they came out of the gates hot, appearing to be one of the few Cup contenders in the league, but hit an awful rough patch after the Christmas break. Jacob Markstrom and Nico Hischier missed a good chunk of action, and by the time they returned, Jack Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, and Jonas Siegenthaler all went down with injuries.

The big complaint many Devils fans had was that GM Tom Fitzgerald did not do much at the trade deadline to bolster their roster, with Hughes being ruled out for the season, and uncertainty surrounding Hamilton and Siegenthaler whether they would make it back for the playoffs.  

Nonetheless, the team got their act together in March. They now find themselves locked into a rematch with the Carolina Hurricanes, whom they lost to in five games in the second round of the 2022-23 playoffs.

With another chapter in this heated rivalry set to unfold, the Devils have already been labeled substantial underdogs in this series. It’s with good reason, considering Jack Hughes’ absence and potential inactivity of Hamilton and Siegenthaler. 

However, it does not mean New Jersey should be counted out yet. Let’s take a look at the keys for the Devils to knock off Carolina and continue on with a potential deep playoff run.

New Jersey Goes as Far as Marky Goes

The Devils brought in Jacob Markstrom this past offseason to fill a need they have had since the legendary Martin Brodeur departed The Rock. For the most part, Markstrom has been the missing piece of the puzzle for this squad, allowing Jersey to be a real threat in the East.

In his showings against the Canes earlier this year, he has been efficient, posting a .916 save percentage. However, when Markstrom came back from injury after five and a half weeks, he did not look the same. The good news is that in his past couple of games (excluding the Boston game), he looks like he has returned to his old self.

At the end of the day, this year’s Devils playoff run rests on the shoulders of Markstrom.  Without Hughes, and potentially their two top D-men, he will have to be spectacular.  He has proven that he can rise to the occasion on a consistent basis. If Markstrom turns on his A-game against the Canes, this is certainly a pesky team to watch out for.

Rinse and Repeat on Special Teams

Outside of goaltending, another outstanding feature of this team this season has been their special teams. Both the power play and penalty kill rank top-three in the NHL, with the power play hitting at a 27.9% rate and the penalty kill coming through at an 82.5% clip.

The power play unit without Jack Hughes is still pretty lethal, boasting Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, and Luke Hughes running the point. When playoff time rolls around, the usual power play and penalty kill are raised to even higher stakes.  Each opportunity will play a big part in determining the momentum of every game. If the Devils can continue this success, they pose a threat on both sides of special teams.

Depth Scoring is Crucial

Yes, I am talking to you, Dawson Mercer. Hischier, Bratt, and Meier cannot do all the work for this team, so if the Devils are to get past a tough Carolina team, they will need goals from the supporting cast to help them get gritty 2-1 and 3-2 wins. 

Depth scoring does not just rest on Mercer’s shoulders, even though it is pertinent that he steps up his performance in fewer than two weeks.  Stefan Noesen, Paul Cotter, Ondrej Palat, and Erik Haula will also play an important role, as any type of meaningful offensive production will play a massive part in upsetting the Canes.

Score the First Goal

This might seem like a simple and easy thing to say, but it is much more important when playing a team like Carolina.  The Canes will host the first two games of the series, and playing down a goal in front of a ravenous Carolina crowd is the last thing this Jersey team wants to do.  

Moreover, goals are at a premium during the playoffs, and at times, one goal feels like three.  It is not easy to play catch-up against Carolina, as their stifling defense limits the chances their opposition gets. Getting out to an early lead and supporting Markstrom between the pipes will go an extremely long way towards turning the tide in this series.

Rewrite History

The Hurricanes have the Devils' number in the playoffs, as they have won four out of five playoff series.  New Jersey won the first installment of this playoff rivalry in 2001, but since then, Carolina has won in 2002, 2006, 2009, and most notably in 2023.  

It was not pretty in 2023, as only the final game of the series was competitive, when the Canes won 3-2 in OT to move on to the ECF.  As previously mentioned, the Devils will have to silence the home Carolina crowd in the first couple of games of the series. Despite being down key pieces, NJD are not just happy to have made the playoffs, but are ready to shock the doubters counting them out already.

Ryan Nelke can be reached at ryan.nelke@student.shu.edu.

 

Posted in: sports,