New Jersey has made the playoffs only three times in the past 13 seasons but expects to kick off a new era — even without Jack Hughes.

It's the sixth time the teams will play one another in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Carolina has won the past four series, most recently the 2023 Eastern Conference Second Round in five games. New Jersey won the first series, the 2001 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, in six.

In another familiar Eastern Conference playoff matchup, the Hurricanes and Devils are set to battle in a first-round series, which gets underway Sunday.The two teams squared off in the 2022-23 playoffs,