Devils/Hurricanes Game 2: Lineups, Keys, and More
The Carolina Hurricanes dominated the New Jersey Devils, 5-1, in Game 1. The Devils have some adjusting to do in preparation for Game 2 tonight at PNC Arena in North Carolina.
A total team effort was the reason for the Canes’ Game 1 win, but can they repeat the same effort in Game 2? What adjustments will New Jersey make, if any, for the rematch?
The Devils will look to tie the series against the Hurricanes at one.
Who starts in net for the New Jersey Devils?
The big question that New Jersey has is who will start in goal for Game 2. Akira Schmid had been solid in the games he played but has seemingly come back down to earth in the last couple of games.
He has been pulled twice in the past three games, with backup Vitek Vanecek coming in and playing solid. This may be an opportunity to start Vanecek in goal for Game 2, as it could give the team a boost in overall play.
Schmid has more wins, but Vanecek has a better GAA and save percentage. If you are Devils head coach Lindy Ruff, who do you decide on? A goalie rotation in the playoffs is never a good thing.
Will Timo Meier play in Game 2?
One critical piece for the Devils offense is Timo Meier. Although he did not produce in the last series against the New York Rangers, Meier is capable of breaking out when the Devils need him most.
Meier was injured in period three of Game 7 against the Rangers after a Jacob Trouba hit and did not return. Any kind of return for Meier, even if not 100%, may lift the group a bit and get them back on track.
Devils met with a brick wall of defense
One noticeable thing in Game 1 was how New Jersey could not gain control of the offensive zone. The Devils never had a chance once they hit the blue line, as they were met by red jerseys. If they made it inside the zone, there was a Canes player right on top of the puck.
New Jersey had no room to operate or set up any plays the way they wanted to, and that is a credit to the defensive structure of the Hurricanes.
The Carolina Hurricanes defense is big and physical but can also be offensive. If New Jersey is going to get back into this series they have to find a way to get some pressure inside the offensive zone.
New Jersey stars a minus
Two of New Jersey’s main offensive stars, Jack Hughes and Ondrej Palat, were a minus in Game 1. Hughes and Palat were both a -3 and looked outmatched when on the ice. The Devils team as a whole was a -21, while Carolina was a +20.
Palat, Hughes, and the rest of the Devils team can not afford to have these types of numbers throughout the series or it will be a short one for sure.
Carolina’s Seth Jarvis has a nice Game 1
Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis came to play in Game 1 as he played a gritty game to set the tone. His overall game allowed the rest of his linemates to control the play in all three zones. Jarvis picked up a goal on his only shot, had three hits, and had two takeaways in 16:41 of ice time.
He will be one of the pieces Carolina looks to feed off of in Game 2 in hopes of going up 2-0. Jarvis is a player that does not get mentioned in the success of the Canes but is one reason they have been successful as a team.
Projected lineups for the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils
Carolina Hurricanes
Stefan Noesen- Sebastian Aho- Seth Jarvis
Jordan Martinook- Jesperi Kotkaniemi- Jesper Fast
Jack Drury- Jordan Staal- Martin Necas
Paul Stastny- Derek Stephan- Jesse Puljujarvi
Jacob Slavin-Brent Burns
Brady Skeji-Brett Pesce
Shayne Gostisbehere-Jalen Chatfield
Frederik Andersen- Antti Raanta
Injuries- Jake Gardiner (hip-IR), Ondrej Kase (concussion-IR), Max Pacioretty (Achilles-IR), Andrei Svechnikov (knee-IR), Teuvo Taravainen (hand), Jack Drury (upper-body, day-to-day)
New Jersey Devils
Tomas Tatar- Nico Hischier- Jesper Bratt
Ondrej Palat- Jack Hughes- Erik Haula
Yegor Sharangovich- Dawson Mercer- Jesper Boqvist
Miles Wood- Michael McLeod- Nathan Bastian
Jonas Siegenthaler- Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves- John Marino
Kevin Bahl-Damon Severson
Akira Schmid-VItek Vanecek
Injuries- Jonathan Bernier (hip), Timo Meier (upper-body, day-to-day)
Lineups via NHL.com
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Where to watch
Game 2 will be on TNT at 8:00 PM.