Philadelphia Flyers vs. Carolina Hurricanes Game 2 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
The red-hot Carolina Hurricanes haven’t trailed for a second in this year’s playoffs as they look to take a 2-0 lead in their second-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night.
Carolina continued their perfect start to the postseason with a 3-0 statement win over the Flyers on Saturday. Will Philly have an answer in Game 2, or can Carolina win their sixth straight playoff game?
The Hurricanes are -275 favourites to win on the NHL odds, with the total set at 5.5.
Flyers vs. Hurricanes NHL Betting Odds
Game 1 between these teams was a drastic difference from the season series. While Carolina won three of four games in the regular season, every game was decided in overtime or in a shootout.
As close as games have been between the teams this year, it’s still the Hurricanes who have owned the overall series. Carolina has won nine of the last 10 head-to-heads, including five straight at home.
Low scoring has been a theme, with the Under cashing in three straight head-to-heads and nine of the last 12.
Seeded first in the Eastern Conference, the Hurricanes enter Monday as massive -800 favourites to win the series on the NHL futures board. That would book Carolina’s third trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in the last four years, although they’ve only won one game in those two previous appearances.
Playing in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, the Flyers have their work cut out for them as +550 series underdogs. Philadelphia hasn’t made it as far as the conference finals since 2010 when they lost in a six-game Stanley Cup Final series against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The favoured series result now stands as a Hurricanes win in five games at +200. The biggest long shot is Flyers in five at +4000. Personally, I think Philly finds a way to sneak in a couple wins so the best value for me is Carolina winning in six games at +380.
Oddsmakers have these teams going in complete opposite directions. Carolina has the second-shortest Stanley Cup odds at +195, trailing only the Colorado Avalanche at +190. Meanwhile, the Flyers have the longest Cup odds of all remaining teams at +4000.
Philadelphia Flyers
It was too little, too late for Philadelphia in Game 1. After being outshot 21-9 in the first two periods, the Flyers came out hard in the third and put up 10 shots to Carolina’s two, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Special teams were a major issue as Philadelphia was actually outshot 3-0 on four power play opportunities. That has to change considering the Hurricanes are 24-for-25 on the penalty kill in these playoffs.
The offence was impacted with the loss of Owen Tippett, who took part in the optional skate on Saturday but did not play in Game 1 because of an undisclosed injury. After leading the Flyers with 28 goals in the regular season, Tippett managed just two points (1G, 1A) in Philadelphia’s six-game series against Pittsburgh. Tippett was listed as a game-time decision on Saturday, so we likely won’t know if he plays on Monday until the official lineups are announced.
Carolina Hurricanes
You can’t ask for much more from Carolina through five games of the playoffs. The Hurricanes haven’t trailed at all in the postseason and they’ve outscored Ottawa and Philadelphia 14-5 overall. Logan Stankoven has been a major reason as he’s scored in every playoff game and had two goals in Game 1 against the Flyers. Goaltender Frederik Andersen has also been elite as he leads the playoffs in both goals-against average (0.90) and save percentage (.961).
Like their opponents, Carolina was also dealing with injury issues in Game 1. Defenceman Alexander Nikishin didn’t play after taking part in the morning skate as he continues to deal with a concussion he suffered in the first round against the Senators. While Nikishin isn’t necessarily the Hurricanes’ most important blue-liner, it’s still a noticeable loss as he averaged 16:31 of ice time in four games against Ottawa.
