Analysis of Hurricanes vs Devils Series Odds, Preview, and Prediction

• The Carolina Hurricanes battle the New Jersey Devils in Round 1 of the NHL Playoffs
• The Opening Hurricanes vs Devils odds favor Carolina to advance
• Read below for Hurricanes vs Devils series odds, preview and prediction

The Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils are set to lock horns in a first-round clash in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This Metropolitan Division showdown became official when the Devils punched their playoff ticket, setting up what should be an intriguing series kicking off April 19 or 20th.

Opening Hurricanes vs Devils odds have been released, with Carolina heavily favored to advance to the second round. The Hurricanes will likely hold home-ice advantage for this series after maintaining their position as the second seed in the Metro.

Hurricanes vs Devils Odds

The FanDuel Sportsbook odds have the Hurricanes as substantial -275 favorites to win the series, giving them approximately a 73% implied probability of advancing. The Devils come in as +220 underdogs in this matchup.

Odds as of April 10, 2025, at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Hurricanes Betting Analysis

The Carolina Hurricanes currently hold second place in the Metropolitan Division with a 46-27-4 record (96 points) with just a handful of games left in the regular season. They’ve maintained a seven-point advantage over the Devils, all but securing home-ice advantage for this first-round series.

Carolina has been strong on both sides of the puck this season, ranking 10th in goals for (247) at 3.21 per game, while allowing just 208 goals against (8th in NHL) for a solid 2.70 goals-against average.

Sebastian Aho leads the Hurricanes’ attack with 70 points (28 goals, 42 assists) in 76 games, while Seth Jarvis has broken out with 61 points (30 goals, 31 assists) in 70 games. Carolina’s depth has been impressive, with ten different players hitting double-digit goals this season.

What truly sets the Hurricanes apart is their dominant possession game. Carolina leads the league with a 59.36% Corsi For percentage, generating far more shot attempts (4387) while limiting opponents to just 3004. This territorial advantage gives them a significant edge of nearly 9% over the Devils in possession metrics.

In net, the Canes have rotated between Pyotr Kochetkov (26-15-3, 2.58 GAA, .898 SV%) and Frederik Andersen (13-6-0, 2.11 GAA, .914 SV%), with Andersen recently returning from a knee injury that sidelined him for 39 games.

Devils Betting Analysis

The New Jersey Devils (41-30-7) have secured the third seed in the Metropolitan Division and currently have 88 points in the standings. While they recently missed a chance to clinch earlier with a 7-2 loss to Boston, they’ve now officially secured their playoff position.

Offense has been a challenge for New Jersey, as they’ve scored 231 goals (2.59 per game), which is among the bottom half of the league. Their defense has been well above average, allowing 206 goals (2.91 per game), ranking 6th in the NHL.

The Devils are powered by Jesper Bratt, who’s having a career year with 88 points (21 goals, 67 assists) in 78 games, and captain Nico Hischier with 67 points (35 goals, 32 assists) in 72 games.

A significant blow to their lineup is the absence of Jack Hughes, who had 70 points (27 goals, 43 assists) in 62 games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in March. Top blueliner Dougie Hamilton is also sidelined with a lower-body injury, and it’s unclear when he will be able to return.

In the crease, Jacob Markstrom (26-15-6, 2.53 GAA, .899 SV%) has been the Devils’ primary netminder since being acquired from Calgary during the offseason. Jake Allen serves as the backup with a 12-15-1 record, 2.59 GAA and .911 save percentage in 29 games.

Special teams could be the X-factor here, with New Jersey’s power play (27.9%, 13th) holding a notable edge over Carolina’s (18.6%, 24th). However, the Hurricanes own the NHL’s top penalty kill unit at 84.9%, although New Jersey is right behind them at 82.6%.

Head-to-Head Analysis

These teams split their season series right down the middle at 2-2-0 each. For the Hurricanes, Jack Roslovic has been a Devils killer with five points (three goals, two assists) in four games, while Jarvis has chipped in four points (one goal, three assists) in three matchups.

On the Devils’ side, Bratt has been a thorn in Carolina’s side, racking up seven points (two goals, five assists) in their four meetings. Markstrom has stood tall against the Canes, going a solid 2-1-0 with a 2.34 GAA and .916 save percentage in three games.

Hurricanes vs Devils Head-to-Head Stats

*stats from 2024-25 regular season

Canes vs Devils Series Prediction

This Metro clash is all about contrasting styles. Carolina smothers teams with puck possession and plays lockdown defense, while the Devils want to open things up and turn these games into a track meet. In all five of the Deivls’ wins over Carolina dating back to 2022, they’ve scored at least four goals.

The battle to watch will be Carolina’s puck control against New Jersey’s attempts to generate anything offensively. The Hurricanes should own the 5-on-5 play, where they’ve been flat-out bullying teams all season. If they can shut down Bratt and Hischier, the Devils are in serious trouble.

Special teams could help the Devils make this a series, but I expect Carolina’s top-ranked penalty kill to frustrate New Jersey’s power play. Sheldon Keefe’s team bagged three tallies with the man-advantage in the season series, but Hughes and Hamilton played important roles.

The goaltending battle between Kochetkov/Andersen and Markstrom could also swing games, but Carolina’s netminders have posted better numbers overall this season. Markstrom’s save percentage has dipped below .900 in 2024-25, and he was torched by the Oilers the last time he made the postseason.

With likely home-ice advantage, superior depth, dominant possession metrics, and a massive edge in five-on-five play, the Hurricanes should control this series. While the Devils have elite talent in Bratt and Hischier, the absence of Jack Hughes significantly limits their offensive ceiling.

• Prediction: Hurricanes in 5 games

The NHL playoffs are in full swing, and one of the most intriguing matchups in the second round is the series between the Carolina Hurricanes and the New Jersey Devils. Both teams have had impressive seasons and are coming off strong first-round performances, making this series a must-watch for hockey fans.

The Hurricanes finished the regular season with a record of 36-12-8, good for third place in the Central Division. They swept the Nashville Predators in the first round of the playoffs, showcasing their depth and skill on both ends of the ice. Led by captain Jordan Staal and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, the Hurricanes have a strong chance of making a deep playoff run.

On the other hand, the Devils finished the regular season with a record of 32-16-6, securing fourth place in the Metropolitan Division. They defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in the first round, with standout performances from forwards Jack Hughes and Pavel Zacha. The Devils have a potent offense and solid defense, making them a tough matchup for any team in the playoffs.

As for the series odds, the Hurricanes are currently favored to win the series at -150, while the Devils are the underdogs at +130. This means that oddsmakers believe the Hurricanes have a higher probability of winning the series, but the Devils are not to be underestimated.

In terms of a preview for the series, both teams match up well against each other. The Hurricanes have a strong defense and goaltending, while the Devils have a high-powered offense that can score goals in bunches. It will be interesting to see how each team adjusts their game plan to counter their opponent’s strengths.

As for a prediction, it is tough to say who will come out on top in this series. Both teams have shown they are capable of playing at a high level and have what it takes to advance to the next round. However, if I had to make a prediction, I would give a slight edge to the Hurricanes based on their depth and overall consistency throughout the season.

Overall, this series between the Hurricanes and Devils is shaping up to be an exciting and competitive matchup. Hockey fans should be prepared for some intense and thrilling games as these two teams battle it out for a spot in the conference finals.