How the New Jersey Devils Can Overcome the Hurricanes in Their Potential Upcoming Postseason Battle
Better games have been seen by these New Jersey Devils, but as they continue to slip without their superstar, Jack Hughes, their postseason chance is still very likely. As the postseason without their first pick is something fans hate to imagine, they’ll have to accept this team must fight without him. Without some firepower, as well as some crucial defense from Dougie Hamilton, this very likely postseason matchup is looking like trouble for New Jersey. The Carolina Hurricanes remain eight points ahead of New Jersey and are 8-2-0 in their previous 10, while New Jersey remains 5-5-0 in their rough stretch, hockey fans will know who is favored. With the playoffs less than a month away, what’s New Jersey to do in order to make them a worthy opponent for Carolina in this first round?
As injuries already look to be costing New Jersey their postseason, what matters most is all players remain healthy until the season's end. If we’re talking offense, fans can only hope their captain Nico Hischier, the lead scorer with 30 goals, remains safe at all times. Left-wing Jesper Bratt remains essential as well, as he leads with 81 points. Defense-wise, Luke Hughes brings excellence in both defense and offense; it is safe to say that nothing can happen to him as well. Finally, the big steal New Jersey had in the offseason, Brett Pesce, who may not be very physical, but his positioning has been huge this season. A somewhat healthy roster gives them their best bet, but we cannot forget what also must come out huge in the postseason: goaltending.
One of the larger reasons for their recent slump has been the recent struggle of their starting goaltender, Jacob Markström. Coming back from his knee injury, he currently holds a 1-5-0 record with a 4.22 goals-against average and a save percentage of .833. Quite sad to see the 35-year-old continue to struggle, but the injury just needs some to heal. As their backup, Jake Allen continues to impress with his goaltending, it’s questionable if he has a chance to be on the ice. Given their recent struggle while maintaining what they have left, fans would be right to worry and not hold many expectations. As scary as the Carolina Hurricanes look, their past postseason struggle regarding their goaltender does leave them vulnerable, leaving this New Jersey team with a chance may not be much, but it’s a chance.
