After a trio of blowout victories – even Carolina’s lone defeat in the series wasn’t close – the Canes are back home with an opportunity to put their divisional rivals out of their misery. A win in Game 5 would send Rod Brind’Amour’s club to the Eastern Conference Final. In Game 4, the Hurricanes battered the Devils 6-1, the second time they won a game by that score.

The hockey savants expect host Carolina to do away with their opposite number in Game 5. They’re pegged as -143 favourites on the NHL odds‘ moneyline (+188 on the puckline), with the total numbers crunched at 5.5.

Devils vs. Hurricanes NHL Playoffs Betting Odds

The Hurricanes are looking mighty good heading into Game 5 at home. In Game 4 in New Jersey, they avoided a pitfall that ultimately did them in last year in the second round of the playoffs. Now the challenge is to not commit the same error as in the first round this spring, which was to play at home up 3-1 but let the opportunity slip through their fingers, and thus have to travel for a Game 6.

Why the total keeps getting set at 5.5 is a mystery at this point. While it might have seemed smart at the start of the series, the under has never won. Interestingly as well, the spread, typically 1.5 in hockey, has always been covered, regardless of which team earned a win.

New Jersey Devils

Game 4 against the Hurricanes was a lot like Game 2 in the first round against the Rangers. The opening minutes saw Lindy Ruff’s team come out flying, putting considerable pressure on Hurricane defencemen and forcing turnovers. In fact, it was a sloppy pass that resulted in the Devils’ goal from Jack Hughes (sixth) less than two minutes in.

When the tide turns against New Jersey it’s a gargantuan momentum shift that buries all hope. They have not lost a close game in these playoffs, and once again they crumbled against an opposition that stood strong and took advantage of its opportunities. The first period ended 1-1, which didn’t look too bad even though one could sense the winds changing direction. The second period was an unmitigated disaster, the Carolina scoring five times to make it 6-1.

Vitek Vanecek has not had a single good playoff game (he gave up four in the 8-4 Game 3 win). It might sound strange to read about a team in the second round of the playoffs, but the Devils’ have some goaltending woes and it looks as though that, along with maturity issues, could sink them.

Carolina Hurricanes

At this stage in the series, there is little doubt that Carolina is the superior outfit. The Game 3 defeat, a bewildering 8-4 final, seems like the outlier, the one game for which they simply weren’t prepared.

Game 4, despite going down early and looking shaky, was another example of the Hurricanes proving their might. They skate faster, harder, and created more quality scoring opportunities. Martin Necas earned himself a brace (third and fourth), his first being the tying goal late in the first period and his second being the game-winning goal at 7:26 of the second. Both saw him put the finishing touches off terrific buildup and passing from teammates. Brett Pesce, who committed the turnover on New Jersey’s goal, scored to make it 3-1 off a solid wrister, and from there the Canes were off to the races. Jesper Fast (fourth), Brent Burns (first) and Jordan Martinook (third) also tallied. 5-1, 6-1, and 6-1 victories make it seem as though this series just isn’t much of a contest.

Game 5 Prediction: Who Will Win Devils vs. Hurricanes?

Injuries

New Jersey

Dougie Hamilton (D)

Ques Tues Illness - 10 / 04 / 23

Michael McLeod (C)

day-to-day Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 23

Curtis Lazar (C)

Prob Thurs Lower Body - 19 / 03 / 23

Nathan Bastian (RW)

Prob Tues Upper Body - 14 / 03 / 23

Miles Wood (LW)

Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 14 / 03 / 23

Miles Wood (LW)

Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 07 / 03 / 23

Timo Meier (RW)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 26 / 02 / 23

Erik Haula (LW)

Ques Sat Illness - 25 / 02 / 23

Mackenzie Blackwood (G)

Early April Lower Body - 21 / 02 / 23

John Marino (D)

Ques Tues Illness - 21 / 02 / 23

Carolina

Stefan Noesen (RW)

Ques Mon Lower Body - 08 / 04 / 23

Teuvo Teravainen (LW)

Ques Thurs Illness - 30 / 03 / 23

Jesper Fast (RW)

Ques Tues Personal - 28 / 03 / 23

Stefan Noesen (RW)

Ques Thurs Lower Body - 28 / 03 / 23

Jesse Puljujarvi (RW)

Ques Tues Undisclosed - 26 / 03 / 23

Antti Raanta (G)

Early April Lower Body - 07 / 03 / 23

Jalen Chatfield (D)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 07 / 03 / 23

Jesse Puljujarvi (RW)

Late March Personal - 03 / 03 / 23

Jaccob Slavin (D)

Late Feb Lower Body - 21 / 01 / 23

Max Pacioretty (LW)

out for season Achilles - 19 / 01 / 23

Injuries

New Jersey

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Dougie Hamilton (D)	Ques Tues	Illness - 10 / 04 / 23	7-7	9-5	+ -
Hamilton is dealing with an illness, leaving his status against the Sabres on Tuesday in question.
Michael McLeod (C)	day-to-day	Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 23	7-7	9-5	+ -
McLeod is dealing with an unknown injury, and it is uncertain if he will lace up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Curtis Lazar (C)	Prob Thurs	Lower Body - 19 / 03 / 23	12-13	15-9-1	+ -
Lazar has been out of action due to a lower-body ailment, but it is expected that he will return to the lineup for Thursday's clash with the Capitals.
Nathan Bastian (RW)	Prob Tues	Upper Body - 14 / 03 / 23	13-15	16-11-1	+ -
Bastian has been sidelined due to an upper-body injury, but he is expected to return against the Penguins on Tuesday.
Miles Wood (LW)	Out indefinitely	Undisclosed - 14 / 03 / 23	13-15	16-11-1	+ -
Wood is out of commission due to an unlisted issue, and he is without a definitive timetable for recovery.
Miles Wood (LW)	Ques Thurs	Undisclosed - 07 / 03 / 23	14-18	18-13-1	+ -
Wood exited the last contest with an unknown injury, and it has not yet been confirmed whether he will be available Thursday against the Capitals.
Timo Meier (RW)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 26 / 02 / 23	16-19	21-13-1	+ -
Meier is sidelined due to an upper-body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Erik Haula (LW)	Ques Sat	Illness - 25 / 02 / 23	16-20	22-13-1	+ -
Haula is ailing from an illness, and it is unclear if he will take on the Flyers on Saturday.
Mackenzie Blackwood (G)	Early April	Lower Body - 21 / 02 / 23	17-21	23-14-1	+ -
Blackwood has been shifted to the injured reserve list a lower-body ailment, and it is unknown if he will return before the beginning of April.
John Marino (D)	Ques Tues	Illness - 21 / 02 / 23	17-21	23-14-1	+ -
Marino is nursing an illness, leaving his availability for Tuesday's match against the Canadiens uncertain.

Carolina

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Stefan Noesen (RW)	Ques Mon	Lower Body - 08 / 04 / 23	8-12	9-10-1	+ -
Noesen missed the previous contest with a lower-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will face the Senators on Monday.
Teuvo Teravainen (LW)	Ques Thurs	Illness - 30 / 03 / 23	9-15	9-14-1	+ -
Teravainen has been absent from the previous four games due to an illness, and it is unclear if he will face the Predators on Thursday.
Jesper Fast (RW)	Ques Tues	Personal - 28 / 03 / 23	9-16	10-14-1	+ -
Fast is away from the team for the birth of his child, and it is unknown if he will be available for Tuesday's clash with the Lightning.
Stefan Noesen (RW)	Ques Thurs	Lower Body - 28 / 03 / 23	9-16	10-14-1	+ -
Noesen exited the last game with a lower-body injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up for Thursday's battle with the Red Wings.
Jesse Puljujarvi (RW)	Ques Tues	Undisclosed - 26 / 03 / 23	10-16	11-14-1	+ -
Puljujarvi sat out the last game with an unknown issue, and it is uncertain if he will take on the Lightning on Tuesday.
Antti Raanta (G)	Early April	Lower Body - 07 / 03 / 23	13-23	15-19-2	+ -
Raanta is out of the lineup with a lower-body injury, and he is not projected to return until the beginning of April.
Jalen Chatfield (D)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 07 / 03 / 23	13-23	15-19-2	+ -
Chatfield is sidelined due to an upper-body injury, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Jesse Puljujarvi (RW)	Late March	Personal - 03 / 03 / 23	14-24	16-20-2	+ -
Puljujarvi is tending to a visa issue, and he is not expected to suit up for his new team until the end of March.
Jaccob Slavin (D)	Late Feb	Lower Body - 21 / 01 / 23	23-29	22-28-2	+ -
Slavin is idle with a lower-body injury, and he will remain out of action until the end of February.
Max Pacioretty (LW)	out for season	Achilles - 19 / 01 / 23	23-30	23-28-2	+ -
Pacioretty has hit the long-term injured reserve list after tearing his right Achilles tendon, and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season.