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   VS. 

3. NEW JERSEY DEVILS VS. 6. CAROLINA HURRICANES

JOSH BREWSTER

CORE MATCHUP: Carolina’s offensive production from the blueline trumps New Jersey’s ability to do the same. Special teams are a wash in this series, the two clubs are closely ranked. Hockeytalk looks for Anton Babchuk (16 goals, +13) and Joe Corvo (14 goals, 213 shots on net) to provide some rebounds for Carolina’s forward crew to bang home some goals. New Jersey gets little production from its blueline (John Oduya was tops with seven).

Much was made of Rod Brind’Amour’s struggles in the shutdown game (-23), but the former Selke winner brings veteran smarts and somehow managed six assists in four games vs. the Devils this season. Is it possible that he’ll steal some thunder from such Devil luminaries as Zach Parise (45 goals, 3rd in NHL)?

Tuomo Ruutu (26-28-54) enjoyed a career year and could be a secret weapon for the ‘Canes. Chad Larose became a complete pain in the backside for Carolina opponents, with a career-high 19 goals and 171 shots, not bad for a third-year pro.

Goaltending, like offense in this series, is a wash. Martin Brodeur is one of the all-time greats and eclipsed Patrick Roy’s wins record this season, but Cam Ward’s work down the stretch shows that he’s capable of equaling Brodeur’s efforts: Ward recorded nine consecutive victories from March 18-April 7, and went 19-7-2 from Feb 7-April 9.

POTENTIAL SERIES-TURNER: Matt Cullen won’t win the Selke, and might not be nominated, but he’s yet another Hurricane who can play the grind game as well as any Devil. He also chipped in 22 goals. Entirely possible that Cullen can provide a series-turning goal in a shutdown role.

Pick: Carolina in 6.

LEON RAFNER

Welcome back Hurricanes. It’s about time. The Devils have a new arena and a healthy Marty Brodeur. With Patrick Elias and Jamie Langenbrunner scoring, they are a hot team. How about Dainius Zubrus? Although his name reminds me of an alien from Babylon 5, he’s another experienced player that fits in well with Brian Rolston and Gionta. These guys have quietly got the job done all season. Stack up the experienced Devils against the reborn Hurricanes, and this is one storm that will leave no survivors. Carolina depends on goaltender Cam Ward, and like Montreal, made the mid-season coaching correction. The Canes don’t have the creds to match up with the Devils. Eric Staal, Rod Brind’Amour, and Sergei Samsonov are going to have to go flat out to score on the defensive minded Devils. Devils in 5.

DENNIS BERNSTEIN

Carolina was the last team that Martin Brodeur wanted to see in the first round. The Canes have eliminated him twice since he last won the Cup and Carolina enters the playoffs as the hottest team in the East. Carolina GM Jim Rutherford’s major stroke to bring back Erik Cole galvanized Eric Staal and all the key players on the team have a Stanley Cup ring. My personal bias towards Brodeur makes me say that he and Hart candidate Zach Parise find a way.  Devils in 7.

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