4. Devils vs. Hurricanes — Prudential Center — Nov. 21, 2024
All of the Devils’ games against the Carolina Hurricanes will take place in the first half of the 2024-25 season. Nov. 21 will be the first of two home games against the Hurricanes. They will also play on Dec. 27 at home and Oct. 15 in Raleigh.
This is a crucial game for the Devils. To be a playoff-caliber team, the Devils must be able to beat the teams in their division, especially the Hurricanes and New York Rangers, the teams that have won the Metropolitan Division in the past three years. The Devils lost all three games against the Hurricanes in 2023-24. The Devils have struggled to get past the Canes’ defense in recent years.
Ever since Erik Haula’s “Canes Suck” bracelet broke the internet, there’s been an extra spark in this division rivalry. We’re eager to see how the Devils will stack up against the Canes this season. If the Devils will make a playoff run in the next few years, the path forward may likely have a stop in North Carolina.
3. Devils vs. Maple Leafs — Prudential Center— Oct. 10, 2024
The Devils are opening their season in Prague, but once they return, their true home opener at The Rock will be on Oct. 10. The powers-that-be decided the Devils would play their home opener against new head coach Sheldon Keefe’s former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. This game made the NHL’s list of ‘Must-see NHL games for 2024-25 season’. It will be the Devils’ first opportunity to show Keefe’s old team what they can do.
This will be a star-studded matchup with Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Dougie Hamilton, Timo Meier, and Co. going up against the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares. Matthews is coming off a 69-goal regular season in 2023-24. Despite their lineup of stars and solid regular season results, the Maple Leafs have won just one playoff series since 2005.
Keefe and the Devils will look to start off their season at home on a high. With a more balanced lineup than the Maple Leafs have, the Devils organization is hoping Keefe will lead the Devils to a strong regular season followed by playoff success. The Devils and Leafs will play each other three times during the season: twice in New Jersey, including Dec. 10, and once in Toronto on Jan. 16.