Three under the radar Devils who could make a difference vs. the Hurricanes

Despite slotting lower in the depth chart, these three Devils could play important roles in the opening round.

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Every team needs their best players to be their best players come playoff time.

They also need depth pieces to step up, though, and these three could be more impactful than you might expect in the opening round.

Cody Glass

There will be no surprises from the Hurricanes in this series. They’re going to play competitive, hard-nosed hockey and attempt to forecheck the Devils out of the rink.

Breakouts will be especially important as the Devils try to alleviate pressure. One player who could help them do that consistently is Cody Glass.

He isn’t the offensive gamebreaker he was drafted to be but he’s a heady player who makes a lot of smart, subtle plays that help get the team from A to B.

He’s seemingly always in the right spot and does a great job of coming back down low to support the defense and give them easy outlets.

Unlike some players, he’s not quick to throw it away after receiving those passes. He’s able to quickly process the play, make the right read, and advance the puck safely. That’s going to be so, so, important against the Hurricanes.

If the Devils struggle with exits, they’re going to get hemmed in constantly and it’s only a matter of time before they crack.

Glass can help with the dirty work in the defensive zone and allow for the Devils to get play moving in the right direction.

Paul Cotter