Devils vs. Hurricanes Picks and Prediction – 4/20/2025

New Jersey Devils (42-33-7) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (47-29-6)
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Location: PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
TV: ESPN

Previous Games:

  • Devils: Lost 4 of their last 5, including a 5-2 loss to Detroit

  • Hurricanes: Lost 3 straight to end the regular season

Head-to-Head:

These two teams split the regular season series, but Carolina has dominated in recent years with 7 wins in their last 9 matchups. Despite both teams limping into the playoffs, the Hurricanes are in a better spot at home, where they’ve been excellent all year.

New Jersey Devils Breakdown:

The Devils are reeling, especially defensively, giving up 17 goals in their last 4 losses. While the offense has some firepower—led by Jesper Bratt (88 points) and Nico Hischier (35 goals)—they’re not generating enough shots or sustained pressure. Goalie Jacob Markström enters with a 2.54 GAA and a .900 SV%, but Carolina’s aggressive offense could be a problem.

Key Players:

  • Nico Hischier: 35 goals, 69 points

  • Jesper Bratt: 67 assists, 88 points

  • Luke Hughes: 9 points in last 10 games

Carolina Hurricanes Breakdown:

Carolina hasn’t looked like themselves lately, but they’re 8-2 in their last 10 at home and rank top-5 in fewest shots allowed per game (24.9). Sebastian Aho (74 points) and Seth Jarvis (32 goals) lead a deep forward group. The concern lies in net, where Frederik Andersen has posted a rough 4.14 GAA over his last 10. Still, with their puck possession dominance and home ice, Carolina has the edge.

Key Players:

  • Sebastian Aho: 74 points, 45 assists

  • Seth Jarvis: 32 goals, 67 points

  • Andrei Svechnikov: 48 points

Betting Trends:

New Jersey Devils:

  • 1-4 in last 5 games

  • 2-7 in last 9 vs. Carolina

Carolina Hurricanes:

  • 8-2 in last 10 home games

  • 7-3 in last 10 vs. New Jersey

Exact Score Prediction:

Carolina Hurricanes 4 – New Jersey Devils 2

Our Best Bet:

Carolina Hurricanes -1.5 (+115)

Carolina's strong home record and New Jersey’s recent defensive collapse point to a solid opportunity for the Hurricanes to take Game 1 comfortably. Despite late-season losses, Carolina’s puck control and shot suppression should frustrate the Devils, especially with their top scorers relying on transition chances. We expect Carolina to bounce back strong and win by multiple goals at home.

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