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Edgar Chaput
Hurricanes vs. Rangers Game 2 Prediction, Stanley Cup Playoff Odds
Whether one believed the Hurricanes or Rangers would capture the first match, most expected a close game and, by extension, a close series. Sunday’s first tilt mostly delivered, with the host Rangers withstanding a late Hurricanes push to secure a 4-3 victory. Even so, the game within the game held some surprises.
As for the second match, the NHL Playoff odds believe the visiting Canes will level the terms. They’re currently pinned as -120 moneyline favourites.
Hurricanes vs. Rangers NHL Betting Odds
With their Game 1 win, the Rangers have encouraged the odds to favour them for the series as a whole. New York is now a -140 to best Carolina, regardless of how many tries it takes. Their opponents are now +120 to claim the best-of-seven showdown.
As for the numbers of games required, Rangers in five is +450, in six +475, and in seven it dips a bit to +425. All considered, the Hurricanes’ chances aren’t the least bit bad. That they come back and win in six or seven games are both a reasonable +425. The only unlikely outcomes are Rangers in a sweep and Canes in five (both +900).
D Brett Pesce remains out for Carolina with a lower body injury.
Carolina Hurricanes
One sure fire way to understand how the playoffs differ from the regular season is when big, handsome stats compiled from October through April are flipped on their head. Exhibit A: Carolina’s special teams in Game 1 versus New York.
When the playoffs commenced, the Hurricanes sported the very best penalty killing in the NHL (86.4 per cent) and second-best power play unit (26.9 per cent). None of that helped on Sunday against a ruthless Rangers squad, who went 2-for-2 on the man advantage and didn’t cough up anything on Carolina’s five power plays.
The Hurricanes were bamboozled and left dizzy in the first period, as the Rangers raced out to a 3-1 lead. Yes, things could have been different as the visitors rung two shots off the post. Hockey, like most sports, is a game of inches, and on this day said inches did not favour them. But there’s no time to play the “what if?” game.
Seth Jarvis is having himself a playoff run, as he netted his fourth of the postseason late to make it a sweaty 4-3 finish. Martin Necas (second) also scored a slick third period goal via a brilliant Jordan Martinook pass. While goalie Frederik Andersen couldn’t be blamed for the early goals, the one he let slip by in the final frame really was poor.
New York Rangers
If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. After all, if opponents are content to lend the Rangers power play opportunities, New York will be happy to oblige.
They did so again in cunning fashion. That said, even before Mika Zibanejad (second and third goals) got his power play marker – sensational puck movement on New York’s part, by the way – he blasted home the game’s opener at 2:46 after Jack Roslovic circled behind Carolina’s net and sent the puck out front. When Vincent Trochek (fourth) fought to slide biscuit into the basket at 16:28, again on the power play, it felt as if it was just meant to be. Artemi Panarin tallied his third of the playoffs in the third period on a shot that Carolina’s keeper probably should have stopped, but so be it.
The only blemish was Igor Shesterkin. He was good but not great, giving up a trio of goals on only 25 shots, with the post saving his bacon a couple of times.
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