Carolina Hurricanes (58-23-9) vs. New Jersey Devils (56-27-8)
May 7, 2023 3:30 pm EDT
The Line: New Jersey Devils -135 / Carolina Hurricanes +115; Over/Under: +4.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils meet Sunday in game 3 of the NHL East Second Round Playoffs at the Prudential Center. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
The Carolina Hurricanes are averaging 3.38 goals per game and are scoring on 20 percent of their power play opportunities. Sebastian Aho leads Carolina with 4 goals, Brent Burns has 5 assists and Jordan Martinook has 23 shots on goal. Defensively, the Carolina Hurricanes are allowing 2.13 goals per game and are killing 95.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Antti Raanta has allowed 13 goals on 139 shots faced, and Frederik Andersen has given up 3 goals on 81 shots.
The New Jersey Devils are averaging 2.11 goals per game and are scoring on 13.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Erik Haula leads New Jersey with 4 goals, Nico Hischier has 5 assists and Jack Hughes has 38 shots on goal. Defensively, the New Jersey Devils are allowing 3.11 goals per game and are killing 81.8 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Vitek Vanecek has allowed 12 goals on 73 shots faced, and Akira Schmid has given up 14 goals on 178 shots.
The Hurricanes are 38-15 in their last 53 games following a win and 48-21 in their last 69 overall. The Devils are 7-2 in their last 9 home games and 5-1 in their last 6 Sunday games. The over is 5-1-1 in Hurricanes last 7 overall. The over is 4-1 in Devils last 5 Conference Semifinals games. The Hurricanes are 2-6 in the last 8 meetings in New Jersey and 7-2 in the last 9 meetings. The home team is 14-4 in the last 18 meetings. The favorite is 8-1 in the last 9 meetings.
The New Jersey Devils should be favored at home in a must win game with them down 0-2 in the series. I get it, and the home team has dominated these meetings over the years. Still, the Hurricanes have been the better team overall this season, and they absolutely waxed the Devils in the first two efforts with a combined score of 11-2. Of that sort of dominance, it’s hard to turn down the plus money just because the location changes. Give me the road dog.
