New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes Game 5 Prediction, Odds
Carolina’s controlled the majority of this series, as a trio of multi-goal victories has them up 3-1 in the series in which they now return home. And the Hurricanes are whole different beast at home, going 33-9-1 this season at Lenovo Center.
Carolina’s only faulter in the playoffs was a 3-2 double overtime defeat in Game 3, and the Devils’ Game 4 showing made it feel like the overtime magic was truly magic. Aside from Game 3, Carolina is outshooting New Jersy 122-72 in the series as they keep attacking in balanced waves. New Jersey is a team missing several defencemen and their top forward — and it’s showing over time.
Puck drop for Game 5 at Lenovo Center gets started at 7:30 p.m. EDT with the Hurricanes a -275 moneyline favourite to close out the series, and the over-under at 5.5 on the NHL odds.
Devils vs. Hurricanes NHL Betting Odds
The over hit for the first time this series as Game 4 saw a total of seven goals. Carolina’s five goals were the most they’ve scored in a win since April 12, while New Jersey’s now scored two or fewer goals in four of their last five outings. New Jersey has dropped nine straight contests in Carolina. All four of the Hurricanes’ home wins over New Jersey this season have been by multiple goals which makes Carolina 4-0 on the puckline too. One other trend to note: the under is a perfect 10-0 in Carolina’s last 10 games played on a Tuesday.
Carolina is currently the favourite to win the Stanley Cup at +450 odds. If you’re feeling the total opposite outcome though, a Devils series comeback is listed at +2000 odds.
New Jersey Devils
This current Devils roster will have to dig themselves out of this 3-1 series deficit as none of Luke Hughes, Brenden Dillon, or Johnny Kovacevic will return for Game 5. The absence of Jack Hughes up front was going to be a major hole heading into this series, and missing a trio of defencemen seems to be the breaking point. And a 3-0 deficit on Sunday wasn’t something this Devils squad could come back from. Nico Hischier and Timo Meier scored in the Game 4 loss and so far Hischier is the only Devils skater with multiple goals this series. Only five Devils skaters have even scored a goal this series, and only nine have a point.
If New Jersey gains any hope, it’ll be because their bottom six starts producing and offensively and Jacob Markstrom completely locks it down in net. Markstrom’s been good, registering a .913 save percentage in the playoffs but he’ll need to elevate that even more down the stretch.
Carolina Hurricanes
Before Sunday’s five-goal outing, the ‘Canes had been getting by with defence-first hockey. Through four games the Hurricanes have allowed a total of seven goals. That’s because Frederik Andersen has been stellar in net all series but his status for Game 5 is in question after exiting Sunday’s win after a collision with Timo Meier. If Andersen can’t go in Game 5, Carolina will still be in good hands with Pyotr Kochetkov. Carolina split their crease between Andersen and Kochetkov down the stretch, and due to Andersen’s injuries, it was Kochetkov playing a team-high 47 games in net this season.
Andrei Svechnikov scored a hat-trick in Game 4 and is now up to a series-leading four goals. Carolina’s top forwards are leading the way as Svechnikov is tied with Sebastian Aho with a team-leading five points and after them it’s Jackson Balke and Seth Jarvis with three each.
Carolina made their first personnel change of the series in Game 4, as Mark Jankowski checked in for Jack Roslovic who became a healthy scratch.
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