The Carolina Hurricanes are on the brink of advancing to the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs as they face the New Jersey Devils in Game 5 of their first-round series. With a commanding 3-1 series lead, the Hurricanes will look to close out the series at home at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. ET. This matchup promises to be an exciting clash, as the Hurricanes aim to seal the deal and send the Devils packing.
After a decisive 5-2 victory in Game 4, Carolina has demonstrated their prowess on both offense and defense. The Hurricanes have relied heavily on a balanced attack, with standout performances from players like Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho. Svechnikov, who scored a hat trick in Game 4, has been a key figure in the series, tallying four goals overall. Aho has also been crucial, contributing a goal and four assists, and both players have points in three consecutive games.
However, the Hurricanes will have to navigate this pivotal game without their starting goaltender, Frederik Andersen, who sustained an injury in Game 4 after being bowled over by Devils forward Timo Meier. Andersen is currently listed as day-to-day, and coach Rod Brind'Amour has expressed optimism that the injury is not serious. In his absence, rookie Pyotr Kochetkov will take the reins in goal, looking to maintain the team's momentum. Kochetkov has shown promise with a .933 save percentage and a 1.68 goals-against average in limited action this postseason.
On the other side of the ice, the New Jersey Devils find themselves in a precarious position. Having won only one game in the series, they are desperate to stave off elimination. Their offensive struggles have been glaring, as they have managed just five goals through the first four games, including an 0-for-12 performance on the power play. Jacob Markstrom, the Devils' goaltender, has been a bright spot with a .929 save percentage, but without more support from the offense, New Jersey's chances of extending the series appear slim.
Historically, the Hurricanes have had the upper hand in this matchup, winning four out of five previous playoff series against the Devils, including a 4-1 series victory in the 2023 playoffs. This trend adds an extra layer of pressure on the Devils, who have not secured a win in Carolina during the regular season or postseason this year.
As the teams prepare for this crucial showdown, several key players are worth watching. For the Hurricanes, Jaccob Slavin made headlines by surpassing Dave Babych for the most playoff goals by a defenseman in franchise history, scoring his eighth goal in Game 4. Additionally, Andrei Svechnikov has moved into third place for the most playoff points in franchise history, surpassing Ron Francis and Teuvo Teravainen with a three-point outing in Game 4.
Meanwhile, the Devils will look to their captain, Nico Hischier, who has been a consistent performer with three goals in the series, to lead the charge in what could be their final game of the season. The Devils will need to rally together and find a way to break through Carolina's strong defense, which has been perfect on the penalty kill, stopping all 12 power plays faced so far.
The stakes are high as the Hurricanes aim to advance to the second round for the fifth consecutive postseason, while the Devils fight to keep their playoff hopes alive. Fans can catch the action on TBS or stream the game on platforms like Sling TV and Fubo.
As the puck drops at the Lenovo Center, all eyes will be on the ice to see if the Hurricanes can complete the series sweep or if the Devils can muster a comeback to force a Game 6. The tension is palpable, and every moment counts in this thrilling playoff battle.
