RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 28: Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (20) looks down the bench after scoring a goal during the NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes on March 28, 2025 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
(Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Hurricanes defeat Devils in 5 Games
  • Carolina first team to advance to second round
  • Read below for more on the Canes advancing

The Carolina Hurricanes are advancing to the second round!

It took until double overtime (again), but Sebastian Aho completed the comeback with a power-play goal to eliminate the New Jersey Devils in Game 5 on Tuesday night.

The Devils came out hot with a 3-0 lead in the first period and it looked like the series might be heading back to New Jersey. Pyotr Kochetkov hadn’t shown that he can handle the net after the Canes lost Frederik Andersen to injury in Game 4. The Hurricanes answered with four goals of their own in the second period before winning the game and series in double overtime.

At the tail-end of a four-minute power play, Aho blasted a one-timer past Jacob Markstrom for the 5-4 win.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a chance to advance earlier on Tuesday night with a home win but were thwarted by the Ottawa Senators in a 4-0 final.

That opened up the door for the Hurricanes to become the first team to advance to the second round, and they did just that.


The Hurricanes beat the Devils 4-1 in Game 1 and 3-1 in Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead up to New Jersey. The Devils got on the board with a 3-2 win in double overtime in Game 3 to give Carolina a bit of a scare before the Hurricanes pulled away for a 5-2 win in Game 4.

The Devils gave the Hurricanes all they could, but ultimately the injuries up and down the lineup were too much for New Jersey to overcome against the hard-nosed Canes.

The Hurricanes could find out their second-round opponent less than 24 hours after advancing themselves. They’ll play the winner of the Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens series, and the Caps will look to eliminate the Habs in D.C. on Wednesday night.