The New Jersey Devils were not able to bring the momentum of Game 3’s overtime win to Game 4. Now, they are one loss away from packing up and going home for the summer.
It all began in early October when the New Jersey Devils kicked off their season in Prague, Czechia, but it might conclude with a disappointing finish in Carolina after a lackluster performance in what could be their final home game of the season. The Devils fell to the Hurricanes 5-2 in Game 4 of their first-round series, marking their poorest game defensively this season.
At times, the Devils were completely outmatched, looking disoriented in the first period. They had minimal possession during that frame and managed just four shots on Freddie Andersen, failing to generate any offensive threat.
Jacob Markstrom poorly chose this moment to deliver his worst performance of the postseason, allowing four goals on 28 shots. He gave up a goal on the Hurricanes’ first shot, dashing any momentum the Devils might have carried after their victory in Game 3.
Now, the Devils find themselves on the brink after their Game 4 loss. This season hasn’t been easy for them; while they’ve shown flashes of brilliance, they have also been quite frustrating since the New Year.
That frustration extends to this playoff series, where they’ve often been outplayed. Even their sole victory came after they squandered a 2-0 lead in the third period, leaving an asterisk on their success.
With the Devils now facing an uphill battle, they have a daunting task ahead. The Hurricanes are formidable at home, and the Devils would need to not only win three consecutive games but also take two of them on the road. Given the team’s construction and defensive injuries, it seems realistic to acknowledge the situation: this season has been a learning experience, but it likely has a frustrating conclusion in store.
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