Devils Win Final Game, Playoff Preview

In what ended up being a first round playoff preview, the Devils beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 at the Prudential Center last night. There was some good news, but also some bad news that came with the close win.

First, the good news. The Devils beat a team that they had lost their previous three games to this season, and a team that has given them problems not only in the regular season, but also in the playoffs. The Devils also finished the season 4-1 in their last five games, a welcome sight after their struggles of a few weeks ago. Martin Brodeur looked more like the Marty of old with some spectacular saves.

Now, the bad news. For starters, the Hurricanes number one goalie, Cam Ward, was not in the lineup. Playing against Brodeur and the Devils seems to be something Ward enjoys, and the fact that the Devils did not face him in their last game may be a problem come playoff time. Another problem for the Devils is the special teams units. In their game last night, the Hurricanes scored on two of their four power-plays. In contrast, the Devils were held without a goal on their five opportunities. The Devils will need to capitalize on those PP opportunities in the playoffs if they hope to advance against a team they have historically struggled against.

Overall, the Devils seemed to come out looking like a team that knew they needed a strong game against Carolina to finish the season. There were mixed results, but getting the win was a good sign. Their next game against Carolina will be an even bigger one, this time in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Tags: Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes, Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils