Carolina Hurricanes Picks
1st in Metropolitan
(53 - 22)
Next Game
CAR @ VEG Picks
NHL Picks
Hart has been exceptional on home ice with a .929 save percentage and 6.82 goals saved above expected across eight postseason games. The Carolina Hurricanes have also dominated five-on-five possession with a 63.3 Corsi For percentage through the first two games of the series. So, I’m anticipating tidier work from Hart in the Vegas crease in Game 3. He’s dipped to an .855 SV% with -2.49 GSAx to start the Stanley Cup Final, after all, so I’m fully expecting the statistical pendulum to swing back in Hart’s favor Saturday.
Andrei Svechnikov o0.5 Goals Scored (+230)
Svechnikov has been held to a single assist and shot through two games of the finals despite racking up a team-high 0.8 expected goals and five high-danger scoring chances. The Russian winger has also been limited to just three goals and a 6.8 shooting percentage this postseason, so considering he continues to skate in a go-to offensive role and leads Carolina with 7.07 ixG, I’m anticipating the scoring slump coming to an end in Game 3.
The drop in play from Carolina starter Frederik Andersen has gone too far to start the series, with his .837 save percentage and -2.18 goals saved above expected miles below his respective .931 and 15.48 marks to start the postseason. Improved play from Andersen paired with the Hurricanes winning the 5-on-5 possession battle again, paves the way to Carolina winning Game 3. Additionally, Carolina wingers Andrei Svechnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers both have excellent underlying numbers to start the series. Svechnikov sports a high-end 64.3 CF% at 5-on-5, while Ehlers is even better with a 65.6% mark. Ehlers also has six shots on 15 attempts to tie for the team lead in both through two games, while Svechnikov has statistical correction coming after recording just a single shot on nine attempts in the final.
