The Rangers have won three straight to claim sole possession of first place in the division, capped by Wednesday’s decisive 6-3 win over the Toronto. The Hurricanes return home on the heels of a dominating 7-1 victory in Boston, and trail New York by two points in the standings, with four games in hand.

Carolina is a -164 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 5.5.

Rangers vs. Hurricanes NHL Betting Odds

There has been plenty of moneyline movement since the Rangers opened as +138 underdogs. New York saw its odds shorten to +132, but with 65 per cent of sports bettors backing Carolina, the Rangers have since fallen back to +136. Accordingly, Carolina has moved to a -164 favourite. The total remains unchanged since opening at 5.5, with the OVER improving to -121, backed by 88 per cent of the betting action.

Friday night’s matchup at PNC Arena marks the first regular season meeting between these clubs since February 2020, and the first of four scheduled clashes this season. The Hurricanes swept New York in three games when these teams faced off in the qualifying round of the 2020 NHL playoffs. However, it has been the Rangers who have dominated in regular season action, posting wins in five straight matchups, and in 12 of 15 since October 2016. The Rangers’ current 5-0-0 run includes three victories in Carolina in which they limited the Canes to just five total goals. But with New York shooters scoring five times in each of their past two dates with Carolina, the OVER enjoys a 2-0 run.

The Rangers’ stingy ways extend to their recent overall performance. New York has surrendered just two goals per game while winning seven of nine. However, the club has tallied consecutive wins just once while going 5-4-0 over their past nine road dates. The Hurricanes have outgunned opponents by an 11-2 margin while winning two straight, and have averaged 4.13 goals per game during a 6-1-1 run on home ice. That has powered a 6-2-1 run for the OVER in totals betting.

New York Rangers

The Rangers took full advantage of a Maple Leafs squad left weary by injury and a lengthy road trip in Wednesday’s home win. The club showed its resilience by overcoming an early deficit for the second time in as many games. However, slow starts remain a concern, with the Rangers spotting opponents leads in six of their past nine outings. Igor Shesterkin deserves enormous credit for the New York’s recent success. Shesterkin improved to 10-1-0 over his past 11 appearances with Wednesday’s victory, and has allowed just two total goals in a pair of road wins since being snubbed in NHL All-Star Game voting.

Carolina Hurricanes

After allowing 4.25 goals per game in their previous four outings, the Hurricanes have settled down considerably during a stingy 2-0-0 run. Netminder Frederik Andersen has stopped 61 of the 63 total shots he has faced while earning each of those wins. The club has also received offensive contributions from across the lineup, with 10 different Canes shooters finding the back of the net over their past two contests.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Rangers vs. Hurricanes?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Rangers Team Leaders

NYR

Points	Artemi Panarin 96
+ / -	Mika Zibanejad 30
Shots	Chris Kreider 258
Penalty Mins	Jacob Trouba 88
Wins	Igor Shesterkin 36
GAA	Keith Kinkaid 2

CAR

Points	Sebastian Aho 81
+ / -	Jaccob Slavin 35
Shots	Andrei Svechnikov 249
Penalty Mins	Ian Cole 85
Wins	Frederik Andersen 35
GAA	Frederik Andersen 2.17

NYR

Points	Mika Zibanejad 11
+ / -	Andrew Copp 4
Shots	Ryan Strome 27
Penalty Mins	Jacob Trouba 8
Wins	Igor Shesterkin 4
GAA	Alexandar Georgiev 2.04

CAR

Points	Jaccob Slavin 8
+ / -	Jaccob Slavin 10
Shots	Seth Jarvis 19
Penalty Mins	Vincent Trocheck 8
Wins	Antti Raanta 3
GAA	Antti Raanta 2.37

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Hurricanes Team Leaders

NYR

Points	Artemi Panarin 96
+ / -	Mika Zibanejad 30
Shots	Chris Kreider 258
Penalty Mins	Jacob Trouba 88
Wins	Igor Shesterkin 36
GAA	Keith Kinkaid 2

CAR

Points	Sebastian Aho 81
+ / -	Jaccob Slavin 35
Shots	Andrei Svechnikov 249
Penalty Mins	Ian Cole 85
Wins	Frederik Andersen 35
GAA	Frederik Andersen 2.17

NYR

Points	Mika Zibanejad 11
+ / -	Andrew Copp 4
Shots	Ryan Strome 27
Penalty Mins	Jacob Trouba 8
Wins	Igor Shesterkin 4
GAA	Alexandar Georgiev 2.04

CAR

Points	Jaccob Slavin 8
+ / -	Jaccob Slavin 10
Shots	Seth Jarvis 19
Penalty Mins	Vincent Trocheck 8
Wins	Antti Raanta 3
GAA	Antti Raanta 2.37

Injuries

NY Rangers

Barclay Goodrow (RW)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 05 / 05 / 22

Ryan Lindgren (D)

Out Wed Lower Body - 04 / 05 / 22

Keith Kinkaid (G)

Ques Wed Upper Body - 03 / 05 / 22

Artemi Panarin (LW)

Prob Tues Upper Body - 26 / 04 / 22

Andrew Copp (C)

Prob Tues Lower Body - 26 / 04 / 22

Filip Chytil (C)

Ques Tues Upper Body - 22 / 04 / 22

Andrew Copp (C)

Ques Tues Lower Body - 22 / 04 / 22

Kaapo Kakko (RW)

Prob Wed Lower Body - 17 / 04 / 22

Patrik Nemeth (D)

Prob Sat Personal - 11 / 04 / 22

Filip Chytil (C)

Prob Wed Upper Body - 08 / 04 / 22

Carolina

Brady Skjei (D)

Prob Sat Undisclosed - 13 / 05 / 22

Jordan Martinook (LW)

Ques Wed Lower Body - 06 / 05 / 22

Antti Raanta (G)

Prob Fri Upper Body - 04 / 05 / 22

Antti Raanta (G)

Prob Tues Lower Body - 24 / 04 / 22

Jesperi Kotkaniemi (C)

Prob Thurs Lower Body - 18 / 04 / 22

Jordan Staal (C)

Prob Thurs Upper Body - 17 / 04 / 22

Antti Raanta (G)

Ques Sun Illness - 10 / 04 / 22

Brendan Smith (D)

Prob Tues Upper Body - 09 / 04 / 22

Jesperi Kotkaniemi (C)

Prob Thurs Lower Body - 29 / 03 / 22

Ethan Bear (D)

Out indefinitely Lower Body - 28 / 03 / 22

Injuries

NY Rangers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Barclay Goodrow (RW)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 05 / 05 / 22	3-4	7-0	+ -
Goodrow is out of commission with a lower-body ailment, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Ryan Lindgren (D)	Out Wed	Lower Body - 04 / 05 / 22	3-4	7-0	+ -
Lindgren is nursing a lower-body injury, and he will not suit up for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Penguins.
Keith Kinkaid (G)	Ques Wed	Upper Body - 03 / 05 / 22	4-4	7-1	+ -
Kinkaid is bothered by an upper-body injury, and it is unclear if he will take on the Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Artemi Panarin (LW)	Prob Tues	Upper Body - 26 / 04 / 22	4-7	9-2	+ -
Panarin is tending to an upper-body injury, but it is anticipated that he will be active for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Penguins.
Andrew Copp (C)	Prob Tues	Lower Body - 26 / 04 / 22	4-7	9-2	+ -
Copp is hampered by a lower-body issue, but it is likely that he will suit up versus the Penguins for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Filip Chytil (C)	Ques Tues	Upper Body - 22 / 04 / 22	5-7	10-2	+ -
Chytil was absent from the last contest with an upper-body injury, and it is up in the air if he will be active for Tuesday's tilt against the Hurricanes.
Andrew Copp (C)	Ques Tues	Lower Body - 22 / 04 / 22	5-7	10-2	+ -
Copp missed the last game with a lower-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will face the Hurricanes on Tuesday.
Kaapo Kakko (RW)	Prob Wed	Lower Body - 17 / 04 / 22	7-7	10-4	+ -
Kakko has been out of commission with a lower-body injury, but he is expected to be available against the Canadiens on Wednesday.
Patrik Nemeth (D)	Prob Sat	Personal - 11 / 04 / 22	9-8	11-5-1	+ -
Nemeth has missed the previous two contests due to a personal matter, but it is projected that he will take on the Red Wings on Saturday.
Filip Chytil (C)	Prob Wed	Upper Body - 08 / 04 / 22	10-8	11-6-1	+ -
Chytil has sat out the last two contests due to an upper-body injury, but it is projected that he will be available for Wednesday's tilt against the Flyers.

Carolina

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Brady Skjei (D)	Prob Sat	Undisclosed - 13 / 05 / 22	0-2	1-1	+ -
Skjei is battling an unspecified ailment, but it is anticipated that he will take on the Bruins in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Jordan Martinook (LW)	Ques Wed	Lower Body - 06 / 05 / 22	2-4	4-1-1	+ -
Martinook has a lower-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will participate in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Rangers.
Antti Raanta (G)	Prob Fri	Upper Body - 04 / 05 / 22	3-4	5-1-1	+ -
Raanta is hindered by an upper-body injury, but it is likely that he will take part in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Bruins.
Antti Raanta (G)	Prob Tues	Lower Body - 24 / 04 / 22	6-5	8-2-1	+ -
Raanta exited the last game with a lower-body injury, but it is likely that he will battle the Rangers on Tuesday.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi (C)	Prob Thurs	Lower Body - 18 / 04 / 22	8-6	10-3-1	+ -
Kotkaniemi has been idle with a lower-body issue, but he is expected to return to the lineup for Thursday's game against the Devils.
Jordan Staal (C)	Prob Thurs	Upper Body - 17 / 04 / 22	8-7	10-4-1	+ -
Staal was absent from the previous game with an upper-body injury, but it is likely that he will face the Jets on Thursday.
Antti Raanta (G)	Ques Sun	Illness - 10 / 04 / 22	10-8	12-5-1	+ -
Raanta is ailing from an illness, and it is unknown if he will be active for Sunday's matchup with the Ducks.
Brendan Smith (D)	Prob Tues	Upper Body - 09 / 04 / 22	10-8	12-5-1	+ -
Smith missed the previous game with an upper-body issue, but it is expected that he will face the Rangers on Tuesday.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi (C)	Prob Thurs	Lower Body - 29 / 03 / 22	14-10	15-8-1	+ -
Kotkaniemi has been sidelined dealing with a lower-body injury, but it is anticipated that he will suit up against the Red Wings on Thursday.
Ethan Bear (D)	Out indefinitely	Lower Body - 28 / 03 / 22	15-10	16-8-1	+ -
Bear is idle with a lower-body injury, and it is unknown when he will return to the lineup.