They came back to beat the Rangers in seven games after going down 2-0 in their first round series in 2023. Both of those first two losses were at home by 5-1 scores. It took winning two games at Madison Square Garden to tie that series. The Devils are down 2-0 in this series but have chances at the Prudential Center to take a game.

With the series shifting to New Jersey for Game 3, let’s take a look at why the Devils could have some hope left — and why they might not.

Jordan Martinook scored a go-ahead shorthanded goal in the second period and Frederik Andersen came up big in net all night to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New Jersey Devils 3-1 on Tuesday for a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.