The New Jersey Devils clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday and will play the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round.
Carolina (46-27-5) clinched second place in the Metropolitan Division and home-ice advantage against New Jersey (41-30-7) when it earned a point in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday. The Devils had clinched a spot in the playoffs on Wednesday when the New York Rangers lost 8-5 to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Forward Sebastian Aho leads Carolina with 71 points (28 goals, 43 assists) in 77 games this season, and forward Seth Jarvis is second with 63 points (31 goals, 32 assists) in 71 games. Ten players have scored at least 10 goals for Carolina this season. Pyotr Kochetkov is 26-15-3 with a 2.58 goals-against average and .898 save percentage in 45 games this season, and Frederik Andersen is 13-6-1 with a 2.20 GAA and .911 save percentage in 20 games, missing 39 games with a knee injury.
The Devils are led by Jesper Bratt, who has a career-high 88 points (21 goals, 67 assists) in 78 games this season, and fellow forward Nico Hischier, who has 67 points (35 goals, 32 assists) in 72 games. Center Jack Hughes had 70 points (27 goals, 43 assists) in 62 games before sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury in March. Goalie Jacob Markstrom, who was acquired from the Calgary Flames in a trade during the offseason, is 26-15-6 with a 2.53 GAA and .899 save percentage in 48 games this season. Jake Allen is 12-15-1 with a 2.59 GAA and .911 save percentage in 29 games (27 starts).