New York Rangers vs. Carolina Hurricanes Game 5 Prediction, NHL Odds
The Canes are solid home favourites on the NHL odds for Game 5 on Thursday.
Rangers vs. Hurricanes NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
Carolina is unbeaten at home in these playoffs and 0-5 on the road, joining the 1992 Montreal Canadiens and 1976 Toronto Maple Leafs as the only teams in NHL postseason history to lose their first five playoff games. The Habs were swept in the conference semifinals by Boston, and the Leafs lost in the conference semifinals to Philadelphia. The Rangers are 1-4 on the road this postseason.
With the series tied 2-2, Carolina is -159 to win it (was -345 entering Game 4) and New York +119 (was +240). On the exact series result prop, Hurricanes in seven is +202, in six at +227, Rangers in six at +302 and Rangers in seven at +328. I still lean Carolina in seven. That it finishes in six games is -115 and in seven at -115.
To win the East, already through Tampa Bay is -143 with Carolina +213 and New York +434.
New York Rangers
New York won its fifth straight home game Tuesday, 4-1, to even the series. Igor Shesterkin stopped 30 of 31 shots and has been spectacular of late. He became fifth goaltender in club history to post a five-game home winning streak during a postseason, following Mike Richter (1994), Steve Baker (1981), Ed Giacomin (1974) and Dave Kerr (1940). Shesterkin hasn’t been quite the same on the road in these playoffs. Frank Vatrano (third of playoffs), Adam Fox (fourth), Mika Zibanejad (fifth) and Andrew Copp (fifth) had the goals in Game 4. Fox, who also had an assist, scored the first game-winning goal in the playoffs by a New York blueliner Dan Boyle in 2015. Copp, acquired from Winnipeg during the season, added two assists and has 10 points in these playoffs.
The Rangers’ single-season postseason record for points by an in-season acquisition is 16 by Steve Larmer in 1994. New York hasn’t had winger Barclay Goodrow yet in this series due to injury. He has resumed skating but almost surely will miss Game 5. The Rangers are 0-5 in their past five as underdogs.
Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina’s lone goal in Game 4 came from Teuvo Teravainen (third of playoffs) with the team trailing 3-0 in the third period. It was Teravainen’s 15th career playoff goal, now solo fifth on the Hurricanes/Whalers’ all-time list. Sebastian Aho assisted and now is the franchise’s all-time points leader in the playoffs with 44. The Canes were 0-for-2 on the power play and have yet to score with the man advantage in this series. Antti Raanta stopped 24 of 28 shots in his first poor game of the series.
On the road this postseason, the Canes have a minus-13 goal differential with a 4.20 goals-against average. At home, they have a plus-15 goal differential and 1.17 GAA. Carolina is 8-6 all-time in a best-of-seven series when tied 2-2 and 6-2 when that series began at home. The Hurricanes are 6-1 in their past seven following a loss of at least three goals.
NYR
CAR