Two teams that both played last night, the New Jersey Devils and the Carolina Hurricanes face off at PNC Arena for a divisional tilt. This one will get underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 2 and it’s being shown live on MSG Network.
New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes Odds
With a -125 moneyline, Carolina enters the matchup as the favorite. The line for New Jersey sits at +105 and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
New Jersey is 33-31 straight up (SU) and has netted 7.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 64 regular season matches, 32 of its games have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under and just two have pushed. As a road team in 2017-18, the Devils are 16-16 SU.
New Jersey has converted on 19.9 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the fifth-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 82.6 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Devils have been sent to the penalty box 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over its last five match ups. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 7.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.8 saves per game with a .913 save percentage, Cory Schneider (18-18-6) has been the top option in goal for New Jersey this year. Schneider did just play last night, however, so the team could opt to rest him and instead go with Keith Kinkaid (15-11-2 record, .903 save percentage, 2.99 goals against average).
Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier will both be relied on to produce for the visiting Devils. Hall has 69 points on 28 goals and 41 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 20 different games. Hischier has 13 goals and 28 assists to his name (and has registered at least one point in 30 games).
Carolina is 28-36 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.9 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 64 regular season contests, 34 of its games have gone under the total, while 27 have gone over and just two have pushed. The team is 15-17 SU at home this season.
The Hurricanes have converted on just 19.0 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.6 percent of all penalties.
Carolina skaters have been sent to the penalty box only 2.8 times per game in total this season, 3.2 per game over their past five games total, and 2.8 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cam Ward (25.4 saves per game) has been the primary netminder in goal for the Hurricanes. Ward has 18 wins, 15 losses, and four overtime losses and has registered a pedestrian 2.65 goals against average and a fairly-weak .909 save percentage this year.
Sebastian Aho (23 goals, 27 assists) and Teuvo Teravainen (17 goals, 33 assists) will lead the offensive counter for the Canes.
New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Carolina is 3-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while New Jersey is 4-4 in shootouts.
- The total has gone under in three of Carolina’s last five games.
- New Jersey has managed 30.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Carolina has been attempting 38.2 shots per game over its last five home outings.
