G1 New Jersey Devils @ Carolina Hurricanes: It's go time

What happened over the past few months is irrelevant. The Devils have the chance to start fresh, and rewrite the script, against a division rival.

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The New Jersey Devils open their series against the Carolina Hurricanes with a Sunday matinee.

Here are a few notes to get you set for the action:

Survive the storm ⛈️

The Hurricanes’ game plan is predicated on forechecking like there’s no tomorrow and running their opponents right out of the building. And they’re damn good at it – especially on home soil.

Carolina posted an impressive 31-9-1 record in their own building and were the 3rd highest scoring team in the league. They’re a handful.

Many of their best players sat out the last couple of games of the regular season, meaning they’ve rested since Sunday the 13th.

By puck drop, they’ll have had a full week to heal bumps and bruises, recharge the batteries, and prepare themselves to come out like a pack of rabid wolves in Game 1.

Factor in the Hurricanes will also have a loud, packed building waiting for any reason to erupt and there’s real potential for one big play to snowball into another for the Hurricanes.

The start of this game will be all about survival. Yes, the Devils will have the juices flowing and do their best to match the Hurricanes. But it’s going to be tough. It just is.

If they can survive the first chunk of play and avoid falling behind the 8-ball, they’ll give themselves some time to find their footing, settle in, and (ideally) take the crowd out of it.

If they don’t – and cave to a Hurricanes squad that will come out gangbusters – they will be in deep, deep, trouble.

Coming from behind is a big challenge for this Devils offense and, given their style and structure, the Hurricanes are one of the last teams they can afford to fall behind against.

X Marks the spot ❌