The Devils just always seem to prove everyone wrong, and end up winning another division title, rack up another hundred points with 45 plus victories, but never do anything after that in the playoffs. They have one of the greatest goaltenders of all time in Martin Brodeur, but still, they always bow out in the first or second round.
As for their counterparts, the Carolina Hurricanes who are just three years removed from their 2006 Stanley Cup year roll into the playoffs on a tear. They ended the season on a high note, and flirted with missing the playoffs for a third straight season, but moved on up the standings.
The Hurricanes can attribute a large chunk of their success to Eric Staal and goaltender Cam Ward. After the all star break Eric Staal put on a show and ended the season with 40 goals, and Cam Ward returned to his old play when he won the Conn Smythe trophy in 2006 as a rookie, and won 39 games during the season. These two must keep up their strong play in order to beat the Devils. The Hurricanes will also get help from various players, like Tuomu Ruutu, who was traded from Chicago due to his lack of scoring. This season he put up 26 goals. Ray Whitney put forth a quiet season in which he led the Hurricanes in scoring with 77 points.
The Hurricanes will need their whole roster to really step up, because they will have to get through a stingy New Jersey defense that will produce tedious games if Carolina cannot score. Coming the other way will be the New Jersey snipers led by superstar Zach Parise with 45 goals. The Hurricanes cannot just focus all their energy on Parise, because they will have to deal with Patrick Elias (78 points), Jamie Langenbrunner (69 points), Travis Zajac (20 goals), and Brian Gionta (20 goals).
That right there is two scoring lines that have no problems picking apart opposing defenses. The combination of strong scoring and a tight defence are trouble for the Hurricanes. If Carolina can tame those two things, well then, they’ll have to deal with Martin Brodeur, and there is no way Carolina will beat him.
Martin Brodeur has shown in his career that he can win games on his own, and if you add the defense in front him, then it looks like an easy series win for New Jersey.
Matched up, the Jew Jersey Devils are a much better team than Carolina in scoring, and defense. In the end, the Devils have Brodeur who has outdueled plenty of goalies in his time, and Cam Ward has the potential to do so, but Brodeur has a long track record. At the same time, this series could turn into a battle of goaltenders.
SERIES PREDICTION --> THE NEW JERSEY DEVILS WILL WIN THIS SERIES IN FIVE OR SIX GAMES, AND WITH HOME ICE ADVANTAGE ON THEIR SIDE, THEY ARE LOCKS TO WIN.
*IF, BY ANY CHANCE, CAROLINA WINS THREE GAMES IN NEW JERSEY, THEN THE HURRICANES WILL WIN THIS SERIES.
The opinions and thoughts expressed in this or any other article written by 12nadnuk are of his thinking and what he thinks is correct or close to it in the sporting world. If there are any problems by anyone, 12nadnuk is open for rebuttal and what not, and honest criticism. There is also a comments section, so feel free to post what is on your mind about the article. Thank you for reading.
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