The Carolina Hurricanes look to close out their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the New Jersey Devils at home Tuesday night, where they've dominated the first two games and now hold a commanding 3-1 series lead.
With Carolina's defense allowing just 1.75 goals per game this postseason and Andrei Svechnikov heating up with four goals in the series, the Devils face an uphill battle as they try to extend their season beyond Game 5.
New Jersey, struggling offensively with just 1.75 goals per game in the playoffs, will need Jacob Markstrom to replicate his strong moments from earlier games if they hope to force the series back to Newark.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils matchup, our predictive model gives the Hurricanes a 73% chance of defeating the Devils.
Pre-game probabilities
Carolina Hurricanes
Moneyline
Win %
73%
27%
New Jersey Devils
Carolina Hurricanes: 73% win probability
- Superior defensive record (Allowing only 233 goals compared to Devils' 265)
- Strong home-ice advantage (47 wins overall indicates solid home performance)
- Better overall consistency (99 points in standings vs Devils' 91)
New Jersey Devils: 27% win probability
- Poor recent form (LWLLL indicates struggles in last five games)
- Defensive vulnerability (265 goals against is significantly higher than league average)
- Inconsistent road performance (91 points overall with 42 wins suggests challenges winning away)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
| Carolina Hurricanes | New Jersey Devils | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline |
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Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils preview
The Hurricanes have the Devils on the ropes as they return to Lenovo Center with a commanding 3-1 series lead and a chance to close out this first-round Eastern Conference playoff matchup on home ice.
After splitting the first two games in Carolina, the Hurricanes have seized control with a dominant 5-2 victory in Game 4, continuing their recent dominance over New Jersey with a 7-2-1 record in their last ten meetings.
The offensive firepower has been decidedly one-sided, with Carolina averaging 3.5 goals per playoff game while New Jersey has mustered just 1.75, despite Nico Hischier's valiant effort with three goals in the series.
Carolina's defensive prowess has been even more impressive, surrendering just seven goals total through four games, though goaltending questions loom with Frederik Andersen's undisclosed injury potentially thrusting Pyotr Kochetkov into the spotlight.
The special teams battle tells an interesting story—New Jersey converting over 28% of their power plays, but facing a Hurricanes penalty kill that hasn't allowed a power play goal in four straight games.
With Andrei Svechnikov (4 goals, 1 assist) and Sebastian Aho (1 goal, 4 assists) leading Carolina's balanced attack, the Devils will need Jacob Markstrom to build on his solid .913 save percentage if they hope to extend their season past Tuesday night.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils form
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils head to head
Carolina Hurricanes
67%
New Jersey Devils
33%
Apr 27, 2025
New Jersey Devils
2 : 5
Carolina Hurricanes
Apr 26, 2025
New Jersey Devils
3 : 2
Carolina Hurricanes
Apr 22, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes
3 : 1
New Jersey Devils
Apr 20, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes
4 : 1
New Jersey Devils
Dec 29, 2024
Carolina Hurricanes
5 : 2
New Jersey Devils
Dec 28, 2024
New Jersey Devils
4 : 2
Carolina Hurricanes
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