Never count out the Hurricanes when they have this much depth
In the charged atmosphere of Raleigh's Lenovo Center, the Carolina Hurricanes refused the story the New Jersey Devils had written for them in the opening minutes of Game 5, erasing a three-goal deficit to win 5-4 in double overtime and advance to Round 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sebastian Aho's power-play goal in the second overtime was the punctuation on a comeback that spoke to something deeper than tactics — a team's collective refusal to accept the terms of its own elimination. Under Rod Brind'Amour, now perfect in seven playoff series, Carolina has become a franchise that does not merely compete in the postseason but seems to understand it as its natural habitat.
- The Devils scored three goals in under ten minutes to open Game 5, threatening to end the series before Carolina's home crowd had settled into their seats.
- In a breathtaking 5:40 stretch of the second period, the Hurricanes erased the entire deficit — Hall, Blake, and Svechnikov each finding the net to swing the momentum completely.
- New Jersey briefly reclaimed the lead, but Aho's second-period power-play goal knotted the game at 4-4 and forced overtime, then double overtime.
- Carolina's special teams told the deeper story of the series: a perfect 15-for-15 penalty kill neutralized the Devils' third-ranked power play entirely across all five games.
- A power play ranked 25th entering the playoffs converted at 31.6% by series' end — a liability quietly transformed into a weapon at the most consequential moment of the season.
The Carolina Hurricanes completed one of the more dramatic eliminations of the opening round, erasing a 3-0 deficit in Game 5 to defeat the New Jersey Devils 5-4 in double overtime at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. Sebastian Aho scored twice, including the double-overtime winner on a power play, sending Carolina to Round 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Devils came out with force, scoring three times in under ten minutes on just eight shots. Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov, making his first start of the series, looked shaky early. But the Hurricanes answered in the second period with a stunning 5:40 sequence — Taylor Hall, Jackson Blake, and Andrei Svechnikov each scored to level the game. Svechnikov's goal was his fourth in two games, following a hat trick in Game 4. New Jersey retook the lead, but Aho's power-play goal made it 4-4, and the game stretched into double overtime before Aho struck again to end it.
Beneath the drama, Carolina's special teams defined the series. Their penalty kill, the league's best during the regular season, went a perfect 15-for-15, completely shutting down New Jersey's third-ranked power play. Even more striking was the transformation of Carolina's own power play — ranked 25th entering the playoffs, it finished Round 1 converting at 31.6%, sixth in the league. A weakness had become a strength precisely when it mattered most.
Rod Brind'Amour is now 7-for-7 in playoff series wins since 2019, the first coach to win at least one round in each of his first seven postseason appearances. He won the Stanley Cup as Carolina's captain in 2006 and is now pursuing it from behind the bench, with a team built in his image — deep, resilient, and dangerous on the road. The Hurricanes await their Round 2 opponent, with questions about goaltender Frederik Andersen's availability lingering, but with the quiet confidence of a franchise that has learned to treat the postseason as its proper stage.
The Carolina Hurricanes erased a three-goal deficit in Game 5 and eliminated the New Jersey Devils in double overtime, winning 5-4 on Sebastian Aho's power-play goal to advance to Round 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The scene at Lenovo Center in Raleigh was electric—the home crowd had watched their team fall behind 3-0 in the opening minutes, then claw back to force overtime, then win it when it mattered most.
The Devils came out with purpose, scoring three goals in under ten minutes on just eight shots. Pyotr Kochetkov, making only his third playoff start and his first of the series, looked vulnerable early. Jacob Markstrom, the Devils' goaltender, was sharp in the first period, stopping all nine shots Carolina threw at him. But the Hurricanes' resilience showed itself in the second period. In just 5:40, they tied the game. Taylor Hall scored first, capitalizing on a loose puck in the crease after Markstrom couldn't cover it cleanly. Jackson Blake followed with his first playoff goal, and Andrei Svechnikov added another—his fourth in two games, extending a hot streak that included a hat trick in Game 4. The momentum had shifted completely.
New Jersey retook the lead briefly, but Aho answered with a power-play goal in the second period to make it 4-4. Kochetkov, who had steadied himself after that rough opening, finished with 31 saves on 35 shots for an .886 save percentage. The game went to overtime, then double overtime. Aho struck again on the power play, this time with the series on the line, sending the Hurricanes to Round 2 and completing one of the more dramatic eliminations of the opening round. It was the Hurricanes' second double-overtime victory in an elimination game since 2019, when Brock McGinn scored against Washington.
The series outcome—a 4-1 victory for Carolina—masked how thoroughly the Hurricanes' special teams dominated. Their penalty kill, ranked first in the NHL during the regular season, went a perfect 15-for-15 in the series. The Devils' power play, ranked third in the league during the regular season, went 0-for-15 across five games. That kind of shutdown performance, orchestrated by assistant coach Tim Gleason, is the foundation of playoff hockey. But what made this series even more striking was what happened on the other side of special teams. The Hurricanes' power play entered the playoffs ranked 25th in the league—a genuine weakness heading into the postseason. By the end of Round 1, they had climbed to sixth, converting six of nineteen attempts for a 31.6% success rate. They had turned a liability into an asset at precisely the right moment.
Rod Brind'Amour, the Hurricanes' head coach, extended a remarkable streak. He is now 7-for-7 in playoff series wins since taking over in 2019, the first coach to win at least one round in each of his first seven postseason appearances. Brind'Amour won the Stanley Cup as captain of the Hurricanes in 2006; now he is chasing that same prize from behind the bench. The way his identity runs through this team—the depth, the willingness to win on the road, the ability to mount comebacks—suggests he is building something substantial.
The Hurricanes will wait for the winner of the Washington-Montreal series to determine their Round 2 opponent. Game 5 of that matchup was scheduled for Wednesday night, with the Capitals seeking to close it out at home. Carolina earned their rest after two double-overtime contests, though there is uncertainty about whether goaltender Frederik Andersen will be available for the next round. The Hurricanes' stated goal is not simply to reach Round 2—it is to win the franchise's second Stanley Cup. If their special teams continue to perform at this level, if their depth holds firm, and if they keep winning on the road, there is little reason to doubt them.
Notable Quotes
The Hurricanes came back from down 3-0 after the Devils scored three goals in under 10 minutes, showing their resilience and depth.— Game 5 narrative
The Hurricanes' special teams dominated the series with a perfect 15-for-15 penalty kill while shutting down the Devils' power play completely.— Series analysis
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
How does a team come back from 3-0 down in the playoffs? That's not supposed to happen.
It happens when you have depth and you don't panic. The Devils scored three goals in under ten minutes, but the Hurricanes didn't fold. They just started playing their game in the second period and scored three goals in 5:40. That's not luck—that's a team with enough talent at every line to keep coming.
Kochetkov looked shaky early. Did he almost lose the game for them?
He had a rough first period, but he locked in after that. He finished with 31 saves on 35 shots. In the playoffs, that's what you need from your goaltender—the ability to settle down and be solid for the rest of the game. He gave them a chance to win.
The power play was ranked 25th going in. How do you fix that in five games?
You don't fix it in five games unless you have the right personnel and the right moment. The Hurricanes had both. They went 6-for-19 in the series, 31.6%. That's elite. And they did it against a Devils power play that was third-ranked. Sometimes it's about matchups and momentum.
What about the penalty kill? 15-for-15 is almost unreal.
It's not unreal for Carolina. They were the best in the league during the regular season, and they just continued that in the playoffs. The Devils' power play went 0-for-15. That's the kind of special teams dominance that wins series.
Rod Brind'Amour is now 7-for-7 in playoff series wins. What does that tell you?
It tells you he's one of the best coaches in the league and that his system works. He won the Cup as a captain here in 2006. Now he's building something as a coach. The way his identity runs through this team—the depth, the toughness, the ability to come back—that's all him.
Do you think they can win the Stanley Cup this year?
If the special teams stay this good and the depth holds, yes. They've already shown they can win on the road and in overtime. Those are the two hardest things to do in the playoffs. They're built for a long run.