The Carolina Hurricanes eliminated the Devils in Game 5 of their first-round series 5-4 in double overtime on Tuesday night. Now, the offseason begins, and so does the important work from Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald with free agency opening on July 1.

Friday night’s double-overtime victory doesn’t mean the New Jersey Devils will win this series. It doesn’t even mean they’ll reach Game 6. They are still the heavy underdogs and trailing 2-1 against a Carolina Hurricanes team that is healthier and has more recent playoff success.

Sebastian Aho hammered a one-timer past Jacob Markstrom at 4:17 of the second OT to help the Carolina Hurricanes defeat the New Jersey Devils 5-4 Tuesday night to clinch their first-round playoff series and become the first team to advance into Round 2.