Devils on brink with Hurricanes, history against them in Game 5

NEWARK, N.J. --The New Jersey Devils are competing against history on the brink of elimination from the Eastern Conference Second Round.

They trail the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 with Game 5 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; TNT, CBC, SN, TVAS). The Hurricanes are 5-0 when leading a best-of-7 series by that margin and are looking to reach the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 2019, when they were swept by the Boston Bruins.

The Devils are 1-10 when down 3-1, the lone series victory against the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2000 Eastern Conference Final. They allowed five goals in the second period of Game 4 and lost 6-1 at Prudential Center on Tuesday.

"We had our video, we had our talk and [Game 4] was just flat-out embarrassing," New Jersey forward Erik Haula said. "It was a huge letdown and we're going to put that behind us. We know what the series is, where we're going, and we'll have to play our best game in the playoffs."

RELATED: [Complete Hurricanes vs. Devils series coverage]

The Devils won at least three consecutive games seven times in the regular season. Those were against different opponents and certainly not part of a best-of-7 playoff series.

"As much as we know about them, they know about us," New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. "When you're playing that same team, there are tendencies that both teams I think would anticipate taking advantage of. We have to focus on our game and support the puck a lot better, more people around the puck.

"The analysis from Game 4 hasn't changed (after watching the video), The fact is we have to move on to the next game knowing that we played too slow, were a step behind and they were a step ahead of everyone."

Ruff has a big decision to make on his starting goalie. For the third time in four games, he pulled his starter in Game 4 after Vitek Vanecek allowed five goals on 17 shots. Akira Schmid allowed one goal on 12 shots in 27:00 of relief.

Schmid is 4-3 with a 2.29 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and two shutouts in eight games (seven starts); Vanecek is 1-3 with a 4.64 GAA and .825 save percentage in seven games (four starts). Mackenzie Blackwood, who has been practicing throughout the postseason, is also an option after going 10-6-2 with a 3.20 GAA and .893 save percentage in 22 regular-season games (20 starts).

Vanecek said very little after Game 4. Frankly, he looked like a defeated goalie.

"He needs to keep his head up," Ruff said. "I think he's the type of teammate who took the loss hard. It doesn't matter if teammates think they're responsible. He's the type of guy who all year long has said just wants to keep getting better, so I understand this time of year what a loss like that means. It's hard, but you'd want your goalie to be that way. You want to win. You want to be the guy who can make a difference."

The other major talking point entering Game 5 is a few of New Jersey's star players from the regular season haven't produced offensively. Jesper Bratt has no goals and two assists, Dawson Mercer has no goals and three assists. Dougie Hamilton has no points in four games against the Hurricanes.

The two forwards and defenseman combined for 203 points (81 goals, 122 assists) this season.

"I think the game isn't that much tougher now, but people are finishing checks and, right now, they always come back as a five-man unit," Bratt said. "You're not having too many times where you're getting odd man rushes against a team like this. In Game 3, we found a way to stretch them out and we were skating, supporting and helping each other.

"Trying to make the game individual will only make it tougher. We have to support, be close to each other and when we are, then we stretch them out. Then we can start using our speed and skill."

Ruff said, "When I look at struggles, I look at getting inside, around the front of the net, those second opportunities. Playoffs are not about easy opportunities. You may get the one outside chance, but you might have to have something go off of you, tip a puck. It may be a rebound. That's an area [Bratt's] got to get to more."