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New Jersey Devils: Metropolitan Division 2019-20 Season Preview

By Vincent Parise

NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 01: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils is congratulated after scoring a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the game at Prudential Center on December 1, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - DECEMBER 01: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils is congratulated after scoring a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the game at Prudential Center on December 1, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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New Jersey Devils Taylor Hall
(Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Carolina Hurricanes

Everybody remembers the “bunch of jerks” that were the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018-19. It turned out to be one of the more fun stories across the National Hockey League last year and this year everyone will find it much less fun. They were 46-29-7 for 99 points and fourth place in the Metropolitan Division. It was a really good season for Carolina that saw them make it to the postseason for the first time in a decade.

They defeated the Washington Capitals in an epic seven-game first-round series and then followed that up with a second-round win over the New York Islanders. They were swept in the Eastern Conference Final by the Boston Bruins, but in a season that began with limited expectations, you can say it was a great season for them.

The Devils took four out of a possible eight points from them by going 2-2-0 against them last year. They are both going to be in contention for the playoffs once again and after the way last year went, there is no reason to believe they can’t make a run. They are both improved teams and they are going to need to be good against one another in their head-to-head matchups.

The Hurricanes have a really good defense as they added Jake Gardiner to join a good core with guys like Dougie Hamilton, Jaccob Slavin, and Justin Faulk. They have some great scorers in guys like Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen and Andrei Svechnikov. This is a team that is going to be dangerous as long as they get decent goaltending.

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