New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes odds, picks and predictions
The New Jersey Devils (24-18-3) and Carolina Hurricanes (26-15-5) meet Thursday at PNC Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Devils vs. Hurricanes odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Hurricanes advanced to the Eastern Conference Final last May after defeating New Jersey in 5 games.
Both teams come into the matchup winning 2 of their last 3 games, with Carolina getting past the Boston Bruins 3-2 Wednesday night.
The Devils enter this game missing a number of key contributors. Two-time All-Star C Jack Hughes, who leads the team in points per game (1.41), will be out through the All-Star break with an upper body injury. D Dougie Hamilton, the highest-paid player on the team, remains out long term. Veteran D Jonas Siegenthaler has a broken foot. Now, C Michael McLeod and D Cal Foote are away from the team indefinitely as the 2018 Hockey Canada investigation heats up.
The Hurricanes have health issues as well, especially in net. G Spencer Martin got the start Wednesday night in Boston despite being claimed off waivers 4 days prior. G Pyotr Kochetkov (concussion protocol) and Frederik Andersen (blood clotting issue) are out as is RW Andrei Svechnikov (upper body), who leads the Canes in average goals scored per game (.372).
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Devils at Hurricanes odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:25 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Devils +136 (bet $100 to win $136) | Hurricanes -164 (bet $164 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Devils +1.5 (-176) | Hurricanes -1.5 (+146)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -122)
Devils at Hurricanes projected goalies
Nico Daws (3-4-0, 3.19 GAA, .903 SV%) vs. Antti Raanta (10-7-2, 3.20 GAA, .866 SV%, 1 SO)
The 23-year-old Daws has lost his last 3 starts, allowing 6 goals against the Dallas Stars on Jan. 20. The 6-2 defeat was the only Really Bad Start (RBS) for Daws, according to Hockey-reference.com, while his teammate G Vitek Vanecek as well as Raanta lead the NHL in that RBS category with 8 a piece.
Raanta has not had a strong season statistically, but he needs more help. No team blocks fewer shots (441) than Carolina or delivers fewer hits (548). The 34-year-old has never lost to New Jersey in his career in regulation (8-0-1).
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Devils at Hurricanes picks and predictions
Prediction
Devils 4, Hurricanes 3
Moneyline
BET DEVILS ML (+136).
New Jersey is coming off a huge 6-5 OT win over the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights Monday as its leading goal scorer RW Tyler Toffoli netted his 2nd hat trick of the season. I expect the Devils to sustain their confidence offensively against a Hurricanes in the midst of back-to-back games.
Puck line/Against the spread
PASS.
Laying -176 is too much juice even though I believe the Devils win outright. New Jersey just has too many guys missing defensively; 20-year-old D Luke Hughes is essentially the leader of that group at the moment.
Over/Under
BET OVER 6.5 (+100).
New Jersey and Carolina rank No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, in Expected Goals For Per 60, and only the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers score on the power play more frequently. With neither starting goalie playing at an elite level and the Devils dealing with a lot of injuries on the back end, there should be plenty of scoring opportunities.
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