The first came near center ice with 13:32 left in the third period. Martin Necas, the Canes’ leading scorer, took a knee-on-knee hit from New Jersey’s Timo Meier, immediately falling to the ice in pain and grabbing his leg.

Welcome back to another NHL Predictions. Each day our writers here at Last Word on Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out.

Right after Boxing Day, the New Jersey Devils play their final home game of the 2024 calendar year. It is their first of a home-and-home with the Carolina Hurricanes. May this go as well as the first home game against the Canes.