The Devils have risen to each challenge they have faced during these playoffs, but it never gets easier this time of year.

Such was a lesson learned following a momentum-crushing 6-1 loss to the Hurricanes in Game 4 of their second-round series Tuesday night at Prudential Center.

The Devils are now just one loss away from their Cinderella season coming to an end, while also tasked with winning three in a row — two on the road — in order to advance.

Game 5 on Thursday night in Raleigh, N.C., will be do-or-die for the Devils, who have only faced elimination once so far these playoffs, in Game 7 of their first-round matchup with the Rangers.

The Hurricanes erupted for five goals on 10 shots in the second period to cruise to victory Tuesday.

Devils head coach Lindy Ruff pulled goalie Vitek Vanecek for Akira Schmid after Carolina’s fifth tally.

Martin Necas scored twice, while Jordan Martinook posted his fourth-straight multi-point night with one goal and three assists for the Hurricanes.

Martinook, who had just one multi-point playoff game in his career before this series, now has 10 points in four games against the Devils.

The Hurricanes wore the Devils down with their signature heavy forecheck and strong transition game. The Devils simply looked overmatched in all three zones for a majority of the 60-minute contest.

Ruff opted to stick with 11 forwards and seven defensemen for the second straight game.

That decision was first brought about when Ryan Graves was unavailable with an upper-body injury in Game 3.

The defenseman was sidelined again, but Ruff evidently wanted to keep Luke Hughes in and ride the same lineup that won in Game 3 on Sunday.

It did not produce anything close to the same results as the Devils’ lone win of the series.

The Devils did get off to another strong start, but the Hurricanes were able to neutralize things before it got out of hand, as it did in Game 3, when the home team jumped out to a three-goal lead after the first period.

Less than two minutes in Tuesday night, Timo Meier intercepted a Carolina attempt to clear the puck. His shot skimmed Jack Hughes’ shin pads before it made its way between Frederik Andersen’s pads for a 1-0 Devils lead.

The Prudential Center crowd was prompt with the “Frrredddyyy” taunts after that one.

A strong transition play from Carolina later in the first, however, allowed the visitors to even the score off of the first of Necas’s twp goals, just 2:20 before the first intermission.

That tie didn’t last long. Necas scored his second goal just under 7 ½ minutes into the second period.

The Hurricanes buried the Devils after that, scoring one goal after the next until the margin was large enough for their liking.

The Devils are now staring up at their loftiest challenge yet.

It will only get harder from here on out.