NEWARK–The New Jersey Devils faced a daunting challenge on Sunday, April 27, 2025, as they took on the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series. Unfortunately for the Devils, they fell short, losing 5-2 and now find themselves one loss away from elimination.
Compounding their struggles, the Devils were down yet another defenseman. Johnathan Kovacevic, a 27-year-old blueliner, was ruled out for the game after sustaining an injury in the first period of New Jersey’s previous match, a thrilling 3-2 double overtime victory against the same Hurricanes. Kovacevic did not return for the final 40 minutes of that game, forcing the team to play with just five defensemen.
In his absence, Dennis Cholowski stepped in to fill the void. The impact of Kovacevic’s injury was palpable, as the Devils were already without Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon, both of whom were injured in Game 1 and have yet to return to skating. Head coach Sheldon Keefe provided no updates on the status of the injured defensemen, leaving fans anxious about the team’s defensive depth moving forward.
Despite the adversity, Jonas Siegenthaler made an expedited return to the lineup on Friday, skating for 27:09 in the overtime thriller. “Yeah, it was clear we only had five defensemen,” Siegenthaler remarked. “And, yeah, I didn’t expect to play that much. But, you know, as said, I prepared myself mentally for that, for whatever comes. And I think if you’re in the flow, you don’t think too much about anything like that.”
However, the Devils' special teams, once the envy of the NHL, have struggled mightily in the playoffs. During the regular season, they boasted a franchise-record power play percentage of 28.2%, ranking third in the league. But in Game 4, they went 0 for 2 on the power play and now find themselves 0 for 12 in the series against a Hurricanes team that has the league's top penalty kill at 83.6%.
Forward Nico Hischier expressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “It has to be a difference-maker, especially in the playoffs. It’s just not clicking right now, but I think we got to get a little looser and not holding our sticks too much. We know we have a good power play, we’ve showed it all year, so just got to loosen up a bit, change our mindset. ... We have to find a way to get one. I feel if we get one, then it'll come.”
In stark contrast, the Hurricanes capitalized on their power-play opportunities. The Devils' penalty kill, which had been ranked second in the league at 82.7%, allowed a goal during their fourth penalty kill of the game, further complicating the Devils' chances. The Hurricanes’ Seth Jarvis scored after a deflection from Andrei Svechnikov just 42 seconds into the second period, extending Carolina's lead to 3-0.
As the game progressed, the Devils struggled to generate offense even during their power plays. They managed just 14 shots on goal during their 12 power-play advantages, a stark contrast to their regular-season performance. Timo Meier, who scored in the second period, commented on the team’s power-play woes, saying, “Special teams is a very important thing in the playoffs, and we got to be better. That’s it.”
The game got off to a rocky start for the Devils. After a tripping penalty on Carolina's Sean Walker with 3:57 left in the first period, New Jersey had their first power play opportunity but failed to capitalize. The Hurricanes took advantage of their own power play when Dougie Hamilton was called for interference, with Jarvis scoring shortly thereafter.
As the Devils entered the third period trailing 4-2, the situation became increasingly dire. Hamilton found himself in the penalty box again, this time for high-sticking just 52 seconds into the period, further complicating the Devils’ efforts to rally back.
Ultimately, the Devils' inability to convert on their power-play chances and their defensive struggles proved to be their downfall. With the loss, they now face a 3-1 deficit in the series, putting them on the brink of elimination. The team is left to ponder how they can turn things around in the next game, as the pressure mounts to avoid being swept in the first round.
The Devils will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for a must-win Game 5. Time will tell if they can find their footing and utilize their special teams effectively to stave off elimination and keep their playoff hopes alive.
For more updates on the New Jersey Devils and the ongoing playoff series, stay tuned to New Jersey Hockey Now.
