Hurricanes Rout Devils 4-1 in Game 1 Playoff Opener

The Carolina Hurricanes dominated the New Jersey Devils in Game 1 of their first-round NHL playoff series, winning 4-1 and outshooting New Jersey 45-24. The Devils, missing key player Jack Hughes for the season, struggled to generate offense and were repeatedly stymied by Carolina’s aggressive forecheck and depth. Injuries further hampered the Devils, with several players leaving the game, though Luke Hughes returned. Carolina's early and sustained pressure resulted in goals from Jalen Chatfield and Logan Stankoven, with Andrei Svechnikov sealing the win late. Analysts and oddsmakers heavily favor the Hurricanes in the series, citing their depth and recent roster advantages, while New Jersey faces mounting questions after a lackluster and mistake-prone performance. Despite Carolina's late-season struggles, their home-ice advantage and strong defensive lineup position them as favorites to advance.