New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes Game 1 Prediction, Playoff Odds
The Hurricanes enter the post-season yet again with high expectations, finishing second in the Metropolitan Division with 99 points. Yet after six consecutive playoff appearances, Carolina’s yet to even reach a Stanley Cup Final with this era of their team.
By all accounts New Jersey has had a disappointing season. The Devils entered this season with legitimate championship aspirations, but several key injuries dropped New Jersey to third in the division. After all, the Devils’ 91 points this season was just two ahead of Columbus’ 89 — and the Blue Jackets were the first team out of the post-season in the East. The Devils will also be without star forward Jack Hughes (shoulder) for this playoff run.
Puck drop for Game 1 at Lenovo Center gets going at 3 p.m. EDT, with the Hurricanes a -210 moneyline favourite on home ice and the over-under at 5.5 on the NHL odds.
Devils vs. Hurricanes NHL Betting Odds
Carolina enters this series as a -285 favourite and currently hold the third-best Stanley Cup odds at +800. Sports Interaction is offering several player props in this series, with the front-runners as listed: Seth Jarvis to lead the series in scoring (+550), Timo Meier to lead the series in shots (+550), and William Carrier to lead the series in hits (+350). Out of all the players in this series, New Jersey’s Nico Hischier led the way with 35 goals this season. Hischier is +600 to lead the series in goals. Carolina’s Jack Roslovic scored 22 times this season and is +2800 to be this series’ leading goal-scorer. Three of Roslovic’s 22 goals this season came against the Devils.
Carolina posed a 31-9-1 record on home ice this season and 9-2 in their last 11 showings. The Hurricanes also have seven straight home wins over New Jersey. These teams split a four-game season series with three of their four games ending in a 4-2 score. The home team went 4-0 in these teams’ four meetings.
New Jersey Devils
Jack Hughes’ shoulder injury has made the Devils an afterthought in most people’s minds. Before his season-ending surgery, Hughes was New Jersey’s only point-a-game player with 70 points in 62 games. Jesper Bratt (88 points) ended as the Devils only skater above 70 points this season, but New Jersey has some legitimate scoring depth. Nico Hischier (35 goals), Timo Meier (26 goals), Stefan Noesen (22 goals), and Bratt (21 goals) all buried at least 20 goals this season and this core will need to step up against a stingy Carolina squad.
Due to the absence of Hughes, Devils believers are instead manufacturing hope by pointing out that this season they added something new from years past: reliable, veteran goaltending. Jacob Markstrom came over this season to be the workhorse number one, but posted a .900 save percentage in 49 games this season. Jake Allen had a .908 save percentage in 31 appearances and could become an option in net if Markstrom doesn’t elevate his game quick.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes did not play their best hockey down the stretch, dropping seven of their last eight contests in the regular season and entering the playoffs on a three-game losing streak. Over this eight-game stretch, Carolina’s allowed 36 goals which is well over four a game. Goalies Pyotr Kochetkov and Frederik Andersen alternated starts to end the season and either could see the crease in Game 1. Both goalies had sub-.900 save percentages this season.
If Carolina’s top line of Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, and Jackson Blake are the best line in this series though… the goaltending and defensive woes might not matter. Aho led Carolina with 74 points, while Jarvis’ 32 goals led the team. The ‘Canes don’t possess much star power but come at opponents in waves while in head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s structure. And the home ice advantage is huge; Carolina’s 45-26 all-time at home in the playoffs and are 12-3 in their last 15 series’ with home ice advantage.
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