Devils Look To Bounce Back Against Carolina In Game 2

Devils vs. Hurricanes. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

New series, same outcome. After playing one of the most complete games they’ve played all season long, the New Jersey Devils started their round two series the same as the last. The Devils traveled down South as their round two opponent Carolina Hurricanes awaited them. And just like the first series, the Devils lost Game 1 in convincing fashion.

For the fourth time these playoffs the Devils dropped a game where the opposing team scored five goals. Carolina came out fast and ready and the Devils looked like a team that played two nights prior. But thankfully, every series is a best of seven and you can adjust and come out flying in the next game. 

Injury-wise, Carolina also has three of their top six wingers out with injury. New Jersey missed Timo Meier in Game 1, and remains day to day ahead of Game 2.

Projected Lineups

New Jersey Devils

Forwards

Tatar-Hischier-Bratt

Palat-Hughes-Haula

Sharangovich-Mercer-Boqvist

Wood-McLeod-Bastian

Defense

Siegenthaler-Hamilton

Graves-Marino

Bahl-Severson

Goalies

Schmid

Vanecek

Carolina Hurricanes

Forwards

Noesen-Aho-Jarvis

Martinook-Kotkaniemi-Fast

Drury-Staal-Necas

Stastny-Stepan-Puljujarvi

Defense

Slavin-Burns

Skjei-Pesce

Gostisbehere-Chatfield

Goalies

Andersen

Raanta

What To Watch For

A Fast Start For New Jersey

If there is one key to this game for the Devils, it is a fast start. The Devils started the first round slow and found themselves down 2-0. They’ll like to not repeat that same path.

Specifically, in Game 1, a slow start doomed the Devils for the rest of the night. However, they did find their legs as the game went on. But a fast start in Game 2 would do wonders.

In Game 1, the Devils had just seven shot attempts and only one making it on net in the first period. A well-rested Carolina team took advantage of the Devils who just played a Game 7.

Solving Frederik Andersen

Goaltender Frederik Andersen has a reputation of not being a goalie that can’t get it done in the playoffs. He was hurt in the playoffs and did not play the first five games of the first round. However, he has started the last two and has been excellent. He is 2-0 with a 0.95 goals against average and a .962 save percentage.

New Jersey needs to solve him and generate more on net. Get traffic in front of him and make life hard for him. That was something Timo Meier did effectively in the first round and something that was sorely missed in Game 1. Carolina’s defensive structure is great, but so is the Devils offensive attack when they are at their best. 

How To Watch

Game 2 Is Friday night at 8:00 on ET and will be on TNT. 

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.