New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Panthers Series Predictions and Best Bets

by Ryan Cobbett - 4/15/2025

New Jersey Devils vs Carolina Hurricanes series predictions and best bets Pyotr Kochetkov Carolina Hurricanes

This playoff matchup between the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils has been set in stone for some time now, with Metro division experiencing a down year. Carolina will benefit from having one more game on home ice in this series, and they currently have a 10-point lead in the division standings over the Devils. The home team went undefeated in the season series between these two teams. They split the series with a 2-2 record, but the Hurricanes finished with a +1-goal differential. However, these two teams have not met since last December and will be chomping at the bit to send the other home early.

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Team Summaries

The Carolina Hurricanes currently have 99 points with two games remaining on their regular season schedule. Their +37-goal differential is the third best mark in the Eastern Conference, and their 42 regulation wins are tied for the most in the conference with Washington. Carolina currently ranks eighth in the league in both GF/G (3.24) and GA/G (2.74) while also having the best penalty kill in the league, as they have shut down 84.1% of their opponent’s man advantages. Carolina was involved in the very weird Mikko Rantanen saga. However, despite paying big for the star, they ended up adding some great future capital to keep their winning window open for the years to come. Sebastian Aho is the team leader in points (74) and assists (45), and Seth Jarvis is the team leader in goals (32) and is second on the team in points (67). Carolina benefits from their incredible depth. They have 10 players who have tallied double-digit goals this season while also having 13 who have at least 27 points. Aho is joined by blueliners Brent Burns and Jaccob Slavin as the only Hurricanes players to average more than 20 minutes on the ice per game. As for their netminding, Pyotr Kochetkov has been the main guy anchoring the crease this season, appearing in 46 games and allowing just 2.59 GA/G.

As for the New Jersey Devils, they have the final guaranteed spot in the Metro Division locked up with 89 points and two games remaining on their schedule. Though they will have to play four in Carolina, the Devils have been one of the best road teams in the NHL this season as they have picked up over half of their points on the road. The front office knew they needed a goaltender to get this team back into the playoff picture, and they certainly struck gold on that as the Devils have allowed just 2.64 GA/G, which is tied for the fourth best mark in the league. They are averaging only 2.91 GF/G, but they have the third best power play in the league, cashing in on 27.4% of their man advantage opportunities this season. The Devils will miss their young star Jack Hughes, who had shoulder surgery that has shut down his year. However, Jesper Bratt has provided the firepower, as he leads the team with 88 points, while Nico Hischier leads the team with 35 goals, which also ranks 16th in the NHL. Jacob Markstrom has been the X-Factor for New Jersey this season, as the veteran netminder has allowed just 2.50 GA/G across 49 appearances this season. His backup, Jake Allen, has also dominated in his role, as he has allowed just 2.61 GA/G this season, which is his best mark in five years.

Goalie Matchup

Kochetkov has been significantly better on home ice this season, as he has allowed just 2.30 GA/G while posting a 19-4-1 record. However, he has struggled against New Jersey this season. Kochetkov has allowed 3.07 GA/G in his two starts against the Devils this season. Kochetkov has also struggled in the postseason, albeit in limited action. He has allowed 4.01 GA/G through two starts and six appearances.

Like Kochetkov, Markstrom has done better on home ice this year, but his road performance has been solid. He has allowed just 2.58 GA/G on the road and has posted a 12-9-2 record. He has a .915 SV% against Carolina this season in three starts. Though he has made the playoffs only twice in his career, he has allowed 2.90 GA/G across 26 starts, and this year marks his first playoff appearance since the 2021-22 season.

Skaters to Watch

Carolina Hurricanes:

Jack Roslovic has five points (3g, 2a) against New Jersey this season.
Jarvis has four points (1g, 3a) against New Jersey this season and he has recorded over 78% of his goals at home.
Sebastian Aho has a +/- rating of +16 on home ice.

New Jersey Devils:

Bratt has a +/- rating of +10 on the road this season and he has recorded seven points (2g, 5a) against Carolina this season.
Timo Meier has racked up 17 PIM in four games against Carolina this season.
Hischier has recorded just eight points in 17 postseason games in his career.

New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Panthers Series Predictions and Best Bets

Carolina is heading into this series as the heavy favorites (-285) to win and advance. The Devils are down their second-best skater, and blueliner Dougie Hamilton may not be 100% heading into the season. New Jersey will have to find a way to win one in Carolina, something they failed to do during the regular season despite going 22-16-2 on the road this season. Markstrom has dominated the Hurricanes this season, but they are relentless with all their depth, and the offense in front of him has slacked down the stretch as they have been shutout twice in seven games. Carolina has faced a little adversity in terms of the Rantanen deal falling through, but that has only tightened the brotherhood in the locker room for the guys who want to be there and win in a Hurricanes uniform. The Devils will steal one in Carolina early, but Carolina will take this series in six games.

My Pick: Carolina Hurricanes to Win: -285, Series Total Games: Over 5.5 -152, Series Exact Games: 6 Games +210

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Pick:	OVER 1.5 (-150)
Start:	April 18, 2025 @ 3:00 PM
Expert:	Doc's Sports

Analysis:

Comp Soccer pick from Doc’s Sports for Friday: (8-Unit NHL Best Bet Below) Spanish LaLiga Take Espanyol/Getafe OVER 1.5 (-150) (3 p.m. EST, Friday April 19) These teams aren’t great offensively, but both have been in their best offensive form of the season recently. Espanyol have scored in 12 straight matches. They have six goals in their last two matches, and both of those were on the road. They will be missing their top scorer here because of suspension, but we think his teammates will step up. And with the way they have been performing, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the home side covers this line by themselves. Getafe have scored in five straight matches. They have 10 goals in their last five matches. So there’s a great chance they will get their share of this low total here on Friday. These sides have played in low scoring matches the last few meetings, but with their current form, combined with this low total, we will lay the juice for the offenses to stay hot here at RCDE Stadium. Read More Read Less

New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Panthers Series Predictions and Best Bets

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