R2, G1 New Jersey Devils @ Carolina Hurricanes: Time to grind

Awaiting the Devils in Round 2 is a rested Hurricanes team known for wreaking havoc with tireless forechecking.

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A few notes to get you set for Game 1 of Devils vs. Hurricanes:

A different kind of grind

The Devils/Rangers series was a grind in that no matter how well the Devils were playing at 5v5, and how many chances they generated offensively, it was extremely difficult to score goals.

Igor Shesterkin would come up with save after save after save, only for the Devils to take a penalty and the Rangers to go bury one at the other end (at least over the first couple of games).

This series is going to be completely different. The Devils should be able to bank on scoring on a much higher percentage of their shots and chances against Frederik Andersen/Antti Raanta. But they’re going to have to work even hard to get them.

Tonight’s game, in particular, is going to be an absolute grind. The Hurricanes are arguably the best forechecking team in the league. They play hard, they play heavy, and they make you work for every inch of ice.

That’s a taxing way to play and, over time, I think it can take its toll on a team. It shouldn’t be an issue in G1, though. The Hurricanes have been off since Friday night, offering plenty of time to rest up and take care of some bumps and bruises.

Meanwhile, the Devils had just one day off following a taxing seven-game series against their biggest rivals. They’re being asked to turn the page very quickly here with little time to recover physically or mentally.

With fresh legs, and the home crowd behind them, the Hurricanes will no doubt be looking to set the tone early with their relentless and heavy style of play.

New Jersey is going to have to be quick and smart on the breakouts and fight through a ton of contact to get to their spots in the OZ. There won’t be the same kind of rush opportunities we saw available in Game 7.

Don’t sleep on Stefan