G4 New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes: Tie it up

The Devils saved their season with a great performance in Game 3. Now they need to build on it.

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The New Jersey Devils can level their series(!) with the Carolina Hurricanes if they can take Game 4 on home soil.

Here are a few notes to get you set:

Slowing Svech

The Devils are throwing their heavy artillery at the Sebastian Aho line, which is freeing up Andrei Svechnikov to face easier competition, especially up front.

That’s yet to prove costly on the scoreboard – the Devils have played Svechnikov even at 5v5 – but the warning signs are certainly there.

Carolina has edged New Jersey 66-31 in shot attempts during Svechnikov’s minutes. The numbers are just as one-sided when looking at chances and xG, as the Hurricanes have controlled 74% and 72% with Svechnikov on the ice.

He’s done a lot of the heavy lifting and is clearly the main scoring threat, leading the Hurricanes in chances and high-danger looks during 5v5 play.

The Devils have survived on a bend but don’t break approach with Svechnikov, often getting in the lane at the last moment and ensuring his 15 attempts/nine scoring chances have translated to only three shots on target at 5v5.

While they deserve credit for that, allowing the Hurricanes to play keepaway during his minutes and banking on blocking seemingly every opportunity that lands on Svechnikov’s stick is probably not a sustainable recipe for success.

Sooner or later, he’s going to break through if the chances continue to be there. Getting Paul Cotter’s line away from Svechnikov’s a little more would probably help keep the volume down.

Time to wake up