"You've Gotta Set the Tone": 2025 Postseason, Round 1, Game 1 Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils

Playoff hockey is back in Raleigh as the Carolina Hurricanes began their race to the top of the mountain in the first round against the New Jersey Devils. With home ice advantage to begin the series, the Canes tried bringing their home success during the regular season with them into the postseason by setting the tone in Game 1. While the Devils might have the fewest points of the 16 playoff teams this season, their firepower isn't anything to underestimate as division rivals squared off.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

CAR (2:24)- Jalen Chatfield (1) (Eric Robinson (1) & Jack Roslovic (1))

2nd Period

CAR (6:37)- Logan Stankoven (1) (Jordan Martinook (1) & Jaccob Slavin (1))

CAR (13:08)- Logan Stankoven (2) PP (Taylor Hall (1) & Jesperi Kotkaniemi (1))

NJD (18:51)- Nico Hischier (1) (Jesper Bratt (1) & Brett Pesce (1))

3rd Period

CAR (17:32)- Andrei Svechnikov (1) EN (Taylor Hall (2))

My Thoughts

Whether you're at the arena or watching from home, there is no atmosphere quite like playoff hockey. Even from the friendly confines of my couch, I could tell how electric the Lenovo Center was this afternoon. The sold-out crowd had the team buzzing as they dominated the Devils to start the series. I can't say the crowd had everything to do with the win, but they certainly set the tone from the start. With every goal and every big save, the Caniacs took the Devils out of the game, especially with their jeering toward Erik Haula every time he touched the puck. I'm so happy playoff hockey is back, along with games that actually matter. 

It's hard to play at the Lenovo Center when you're playing from behind, and the Devils learned that today. Jalen Chatfield set the tone early in the first period with help from the fourth line. Getting the team's opening goal less than 2:30 into the game immediately put New Jersey on their heels, and they weren't able to recover. When the Canes scored first this season at home, they were 19-2-0. When they led after one period at home, they were 11-1-0. Leading after two, they were undefeated at 26-0-0. The opening 20 minutes were pure domination to set the tone for the game.

There's no area of this game that the Canes didn't positively touch. Three of the four lines scored goals, with the top line being the only group stifled on the scoresheet. The power play scored a goal, with Logan Stankoven's second of the game going off the post and into the net late in the second period. The penalty kill only had to work twice and held the Devils off the board. Frederik Andersen won the battle between the pipes, making 23 saves to completely reverse course after a rough season finale in Ottawa. I can admit when I'm wrong, and I was wrong about Andersen after the Ottawa loss. The Devils had the edge in hits, but the Canes laid some of the harder and more memorable ones. Even when the Devils looked their best, the Canes matched or surpassed it.

The early headline for the Devils after Game 1 concerns their health. Along with Jack Hughes' season-ending surgery and Jonas Siegenthaler likely missing the series, the Devils had three players shaken up over the final 40 minutes. Brendan Dillon left the game in the second after getting entangled with William Carrier in front of the net. He skated off under his own power after initially needing help, but he didn't return. Luke Hughes was hurt during a transition chance for the Canes in the third period, appearing to be holding his shoulder. He came back into the game, but that's an obvious area of concern, given New Jersey's issues on defense. Cody Glass was hurt during the same sequence after Jacob Markstrom slashed him in the leg while trying to slash Andrei Svechnikov. It was a self-inflicted wound that kept him out, too. I'm not sure of the extent of their injuries, but it's something to watch heading into Game 2 on Tuesday.

#RaiseUp First Star of the Game- Logan Stankoven

The postseason is all about everyone stepping up at big moments. Playing his first postseason game with the Hurricanes, Logan Stankoven was asked to face New Jersey's top line defensively next to two incredibly reliable two-way forwards. Not only did he succeed beautifully, but Stankoven brought the offense, too. He benefited from two great passes from Jordan Martinook and Taylor Hall, burying two goals in the second period.