In this article we will formulate a Hurricanes vs Devils prediction for this NHL game on Sunday, April 20th at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup in the 1st round of the playoffs.
Carolina Hurricanes Betting Preview
The Carolina Hurricanes are 47-30-5 this season after they lost to Ottawa by a score of 7-5 in their last game. Carolina erased a 3-0 deficit and took a 5-3 lead, but they allowed the last four goals in the loss. The Hurricanes outshot Ottawa by a total of 33-32, won 50.8% of the face-offs, and went 1-3 on the power play in the game. Carolina got goals from Brind’Amour, Jost, Kotkaniemi, Roslovic, and Svechnikov, while Andersen stopped 25 out of 32 shots in the loss.
Prior to that game, the Hurricanes lost to the Canadiens by a score of 4-2 and the Maple Leafs by a score of 4-1. Carolina has lost seven of their last eight games and they finished second in the Metro standings with 99 points. Carolina has scored 3.24 goals per game and they have allowed 2.81 goals against per game, while also going 18.7% on the power play and 83.6% on the penalty kill this season. Sebastian Aho has led Carolina with 29 goals, 45 assists, and 207 shots on goal, while Seth Jarvis has added 32 goals, 35 assists, and 204 shots on goal. Pyotr Kochetkov is 27-16-3 with a 2.60 goals against average and an .898 save percentage this season.
New Jersey Devils Betting Preview
The New Jersey Devils are 42-33-7 this year after they lost to Detroit by a score of 5-2 in their last game. New Jersey cut the deficit from 3-0 to 3-2 in the third, but they allowed the last two goals in the game to seal the loss. The Devils outshot Detroit by a total of 30-27, won 53.1% of the face-offs, and went 1-2 on the power play in the game. New Jersey got goals from Haula and Mercer, while Daws stopped 22 out of 26 shots in the loss.
Prior to that game, the Devils defeated the Bruins by a score of 5-4, but did lose to the Islanders by a score of 1-0 before that. New Jersey has lost four of their last five games and they finished third in the Metro standings with 91 points. New Jersey has scored 2.93 goals per game and they have allowed 2.68 goals against per game, while also going 28.2% on the power play and 82.7% on the penalty kill this season. Jesper Bratt has led New Jersey with 21 goals, 67 assists, and 180 shots on goal, while Nico Hischier has added 35 goals, 34 assists, and 187 shots on goal. Jacob Markstrom is 26-16-6 with a 2.50 goals against average and a .900 save percentage this year.
Why the Devils will beat the Hurricanes
- The Hurricanes have lost five of their last six games as favorites.
- The Devils have won nine of their last 10 road games following a loss.
- The Devils have covered the puck line in each of their last seven games as road underdogs following a loss.
- The Hurricanes have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Devils have won the third period in 10 of their last 11 games as road underdogs when leading after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Devils’ last seven day games following a loss have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Each of the Hurricanes’ last five games against the Devils following a road loss have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the last three games between teams from the same division have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Hurricanes’ last 14 home games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in 14 of the Devils’ last 15 games as underdogs.
Carolina Hurricanes Player Prop Facts
- Seth Jarvis has scored at least one goal in each of the Hurricanes’ last five home games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- Sebastian Aho has recorded at least one assist in each of the Hurricanes’ last seven home games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- Sebastian Aho has recorded at least one point in each of the Hurricanes’ last 21 games as favorites against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- Jack Roslovic has recorded two assists against the Devils this season – equal-most against any opponent.
New Jersey Devils Player Prop Facts
- Jesper Bratt has recorded at least one assist in each of the Devils’ last four games against the Hurricanes.
- Jack Hughes has recorded at least one point in each of his last seven appearances against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Jack Hughes has scored at least one goal in each of his last four appearances against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Ondrej Palat has scored two goals against the Hurricanes this season – most against any opponent.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Carolina Hurricanes rank 1st in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (83.61%).
- The Carolina Hurricanes are one of seven teams to rank in the top 10 for both goals scored and goals conceded per game this season.
- The New Jersey Devils rank 2nd in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (82.67%).
- The New Jersey Devils rank 3rd in the league in power play percentage this season (28.24%).
Hurricanes vs Devils Prediction
Both of these teams finished the regular season struggling to find wins, so it will be interesting to see which team can get back on track here. The Hurricanes are 31-9-1 at home this year, while the Devils are 23-16-2 on the road. New Jersey has lost four of their last five games, while Carolina has lost seven of their last eight. These two teams split the season series with two wins each and I think they are pretty evenly matched, even with Jack Hughes out for the season. This should be a pretty low scoring series and I think game one could go either way, so I will take the Devils and the plus money.