The New York Rangers host the Carolina Hurricanes tonight in Game 2 of the second round series in the NHL Playoffs. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers opened with a 4-3 win over the Hurricanes. New York is now a -140 favorite to win the series at DraftKings, which offered +120 odds on underdog Carolina.
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Four goals were scored in the first period of Game 1, and the OVER cashed in a game that many thought would go UNDER the 5.5 total. Can both goaltenders return to form tonight?
Carolina Hurricanes betting trends
Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen was exposed for the first time in a long time in Game 1. Andersen, who missed most of the regular season before returning from a blood-clot condition in March, ended the regular season with a 13-2-0 record and a 1.84 goals against average (GAA). He continued his dominant run by recording four wins in Carolina's first round win over the Islanders.
Carolina made some uncharacteristic mistakes in the opener. The Canes will need to stay out of the penalty box after the Rangers cashed in twice on the power play in Game 1. That was a shock to the system for Carolina, which boasted the best penalty-kill percentage in the NHL during the regular season at 86.4%.
Seth Jarvis continued his torrid playoff run on offense with another goal in Game 1. Jarvis leads the Canes with four goals and eight points in the playoffs. Martin Necas and defenseman Jacob Slavin also tallied goals for Carolina in the opener.
Similar to Game 1, Carolina is a slight road favorite to win tonight.
More: Best NHL betting sites | 2024 Stanley Cup championship odds
New York Rangers betting trends
New York center Mika Zibanejad registered two goals and an assist to lead the Rangers in Game 1. Zibanejad is having a stellar postseason with a team-high 10 points through five games.
A thing of beauty, the whole way through. pic.twitter.com/qv4f83DIH8
— x - New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 5, 2024
Ex-Hurricane Vincent Trocheck added a goal and an assist against his former team on Sunday. The Rangers jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first period and were able to hang on.
Like his counterpart Andersen, New York goalie Igor Shesterkin struggled in the opener. He yielded three goals on 25 shots. Shesterkin is still 5-0 in the postseason with a 2.00 GAA, and the better goalie could well be the difference in this matchup between Metropolitan Division rivals.
The Rangers captured the division title and the Presidents Cup as the NHL's winningest team in the regular season, but the Hurricanes finished a scant three points back. New York is trying to become the first team to win both the Presidents Cup and Stanley Cup since Chicago in 2013.
Hurricanes vs. Rangers prediction
This could be a huge swing game in a series that many observers expect to go seven games. If Carolina can gain a split at Madison Square Garden, it will flip back to being the betting favorite to win the series.
The Hurricanes own one of the biggest home-ice advantages in the playoffs. Carolina is 15-4 at PNC Arena the last three years. The Rangers, of course, understand this and will come out firing again from the start. Expect Shesterkin to revert back to form and be the difference tonight.
Pick: Rangers on the moneyline
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