The Carolina Hurricanes, by finishing second in the Metropolitan Division, earned home-ice advantage for the first-round series against New Jersey.

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,