Frank Seravalli was joined by Tyler Yaremchuk to discuss the Devils’ ability to even the series against the Hurricanes in the latest episode of Daily face-to-face live.
Tyler Yaremchuk: The New Jersey Devils, they came back in their series against the Carolina Hurricanes, so let’s go. It was the Hughes brothers who did a lot of the work, it being understood that there were a lot of active pieces in this Devils formation. Jack scores twice and adds a few assists, with Luke on his playoff debut picking up a few apples. Devils fans were eager to see this guy in the playoff roster and the payoff was immediate for Lindy Ruff.
It almost makes you think, why didn’t you play it earlier in the playoffs. Timo Meier scores, maybe he finds his game to wake up the Devils or is it just a game where the Canes were a bit behind?
Frank Seravalli: No, I think the Devils woke up and I think that’s a scary thought for the Carolina Hurricanes. Because you think back to the last round between the Devils and Rangers and how lousy it looked in New Jersey’s first two games before they found their footing. And I think that’s perhaps the most impressive part of this Devils playoff run so far is their ability to erase the past.
Yes, it’s a young team. Yeah, they’re not scarred by some of the playoff demons that some of the other teams have put to sleep under their beds like the Toronto Maple Leafs. But I will say in this case, the Devils ability to bounce back and say all that matters is what’s right in front of us. Well, here’s what they’re looking at right now, it’s a shooting ability even in this second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes that’s been good. Above all, it’s a disciplined and consistent team, you know what you’ll get from them night after night.
But the New Jersey Devils’ top scoring talent has the ability to break through and rise above that. We know what the Hurricanes lack in terms of the scoring department. They were able to do this mostly deep, stealing a page from the Seattle Kraken. You’ve seen Jordan Martinook’s penalty shot, like they’ve gotten it from all kinds of different people in this series so far. Can the Devils find another gear now and do it one more time. I know this is going to boil down to maybe the simplest way to put it, but the winner of Game 4 for me wins the series.
If the Devils can find a way to tie the game, they will be the team that advances to the Eastern Conference Finals. And obviously, if the Carolina Hurricanes put them up 3-1, I think they’ll be in first place.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Do you think the Hurricanes change their goaltender for Game 4 and go for Pyotr Kochetkov or is that an overreaction?
Frank Seravalli: Personally, I don’t think that’s an overreaction. I think Kochetkov seemed really steady and look he’s one of those guys you heard Sheldon Keefe say this morning about Joe Woll the moment isn’t too big for him and I think on a purely skill-for-skill basis, he’s just as good as Andersen or Raanta or whoever the Canes want to throw in that net. I don’t think it’s really going to make a difference, but I would go with Kochetkov.
You can watch the rest of the episode here…
