In the Stanley Cup playoffs, a series often can be decided by goaltending, special teams and roster depth to offset injuries. How do the Hurricanes stack up against the Devils?

The Devils last made the playoffs two years ago, defeating the New York Rangers in seven games in the first round before losing to Carolina in five games in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs begin Saturday, April 19.

In a different timeline — one in which Jack Hughes stays healthy and Mikko Rantanen stays in Carolina — this matchup would’ve been a heavyweight tilt. That’s not the timeline we live in, unfortunately,