NHL betting returns as the New York Rangers battle the Carolina Hurricanes in a Qualifying Round matchup to determine which team will advance to the NHL playoffs. Oddsmakers have the Hurricanes as -137 favorites to win this series, while the Rangers are listed at -101 to get into the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in three years.
We break down NHL odds as we bring you free picks and predictions for the play-in series between the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Rangers.
Hurricanes vs Rangers Qualifying Round Odds
| Team | Odds to win the series |
|---|---|
| Carolina Hurricanes | -137 |
| New York Rangers | -101 |
Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction
Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup Odds +3,300
Rod Brindamour's squad might be ninth in the NHL in point percentage but they've been the best team in the league when it comes to analytics. The Hurricanes' dominant puck possession has them first in the league in Corsi and second in Fenwick. They also rank in the Top 10 on the powerplay and Top 5 on the penalty kill.
The Canes have a terrific top line anchored by Sebastian Aho, as well as a fantastic group of blueliners led by Jaccob Slavin and Dougie Hamilton – who is expected to return to the lineup after he had surgery to repair a broken fibula in January. They don't have a whole lot of depth behind their first line, however, and while goalie Petr Mrazek has been solid, he isn't likely to steal a game.
Carolina Hurricanes betting trends
- The Hurricanes are third in the league in shots per game, while allowing the second-fewest shots per game.
- The Hurricanes have a league-best 83.9 win percentage when scoring first.
- The Hurricanes have spent more time shorthanded than any other team in the NHL but are fourth in the league on the penalty kill.
New York Rangers
New York Rangers Stanley Cup Odds +4,000
The Rangers signed Artemi Panarin to a massive contract in the offseason and the Bread Man has paid immediate dividends, tied for third in the league in points (95) and second in the league in plus/minus (plus-36) heading into the shutdown, earning a Hart Trophy nomination for his efforts.
Panarin, along with Mika Zibanejad, who is fifth in the NHL with 41 goals this season, has led a Rangers offense that has scored the fifth-most goals in the league. They will also be happy to get back speedy forward Chris Kreider, who fractured his foot in February but should be fully recovered by the time the qualifying round begins.
There also are questions about who will get the nod for the Rangers between the pipes. Henrik Lundqvist might be a future Hall of Famer but the 38-year-old struggled this season, posting a 3.16 GAA and a save percentage of .905. Rookie Igor Shesterkin, on the other hand, has been terrific, going 10-2 with a 2.52 GAA and a .922 save percentage since making his NHL debut in January.
New York Rangers betting trends
- The Rangers are 9-2-1 to the Over in Henrik Lundqvist's last 12 games in net.
- The Rangers are 10-2 in the last 12 games head-to-head against the Hurricanes.
- The Rangers have scored the second-most third-period goals in the league.
Hurricanes vs Rangers Head-to-Head Comparison
| Carolina Hurricanes | Tale of the Tape | New York Rangers |
|---|---|---|
| 38-25-5 | Record | 37-28-5 |
| 33-35 | O/U | 35-33 |
| 3.19 | Goals Per Game | 3.33 |
| 2.84 | Goals Allowed Per Game | 3.14 |
| 22.3 | Power Play Percentage | 22.9 |
| 84.0 | Penalty Kill Percentage | 77.4 |
Hurricanes vs Rangers Picks and Predictions
Series Prediction: New York Rangers -101 - The Hurricanes always seem to step up in the postseason and analytics suggest they're the superior team, but the Rangers might be a tad undervalued here.
New York swept the regular-season series, going 4-0 and outscoring the Canes by a total of 17-9. The Blueshirts are very dangerous on the offensive end of the ice and while the Hurricanes allow the second-fewest shots on goal in the league, their high-danger scoring chances allowed ranks a mere 19th.
Regardless of who the Rangers go with in nets, they should have the edge. Shesterkin has been a brick wall and although Lundqvist has struggled this season, he's been at his best against Carolina, going 3-0 with a 2.33 GAA and a .947 save percentage. In fact, King Henrik is 16-3 with a 1.74 GAA against the Hurricanes going back to the start of the 2014-15 season.
More NHL Qualifying Round picks and predictions
Under the NHL's special return to play format, there are eight best-of-five Qualifying Round matchups preceding the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Check out our best picks and predictions for all the other series that are scheduled to take place when NHL action resumes:
Western Conference
- Edmonton Oilers vs. Chicago Blackhawks
- Nashville Predators vs. Arizona Coyotes
- Vancouver Canucks vs. Minnesota Wild
- Calgary Flames vs. Winnipeg Jets
Eastern Conference
- Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Montreal Canadiens
- New York Islanders vs. Florida Panthers
- Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Where can I bet on NHL Playoffs odds?
Most online books and casinos offer bets on the Stanley Cup Playoffs and should offer odds on this special Qualifying Round. Check out the best sportsbooks available where you live and see what they are offering for NHL Playoffs odds.
