New Jersey Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said before he start of the first-round series that the Canes were a team that was easy to prepare for, but hard to play. The Canes proved his point in Game 1.

At the end of the second period of Game 2 of the first-round series with Carolina holding a 2-1 lead, Hurricanes defenseman Brett Burns head butted Devils forward Timo Meier after a whistle.

Jesper Bratt scored for New Jersey in the first period to give the Devils their first lead of the series. Bratt's goal was all part of a first period surge by the Devils, where they controlled play and played one of their best periods of the playoff series.