The Carolina Hurricanes head to Newark for a high-stakes game against the surging New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center tonight and it’s unquestionably going to bring plenty of excitement. With both teams sitting atop the Metropolitan Division, this game is going to deliver in a big way.
Ready to bet on this Friday night action? We’ve got the prediction and the best bet.
The Devils come in as slight favorites with a -130 moneyline and a +1.5 puck line at +198, while the Hurricanes sit at +110 on the moneyline. Not a big spread on these two powerhouses, but this isn’t the first time they’ve encountered one another. In fact, they’ve split the series so far at one game a piece.
The over/under is set at 6 goals which tells us the bookmakers are ready for a tight and potentially high-scoring game.
The Devils’ strong recent form makes them a solid pick for bettors, especially at home, where they’ve been dominant this season, but we’ll want to do a bit more research before loading up the bet slip.
The Hurricanes are 7-3 in their last 10 matchups against the Devils. This means they know how to compete against dominant New Jersey.
Their penalty kill is one of the best in the NHL at 85.5%. This will be a critical factor against a Devils team that boasts the second-best power-play percentage in the league at 31.2%.
However, injuries could be a stumbling block for Carolina.
Key players like Frederik Andersen remain sidelined, leaving Pyotr Kochetkov as the go-to netminder. Sure, Kochetkov has a decent save percentage of .903 but he will need to elevate his game just a bit to stifle the Devils’ attack.
Offensively, Martin Necas (14 goals, 20 assists) is the focal point. However, his recent scoring drought puts pressure on teammates like Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov to step up and make big plays.
The Devils are riding momentum, going 4-1 in their last 5 games, including a dominant 5-0 win against the Rangers which none of us saw coming.
Goaltender Jacob Markstrom has been a steady presence between the pipes, leading the league with 18 wins and posting a stellar .912 save percentage.
Offensively, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt headline a potent NJ lineup. With Hischier’s 17 goals and Bratt’s team-leading 31 assists, they’re a constant threat in the zone and Carolina might have trouble containing the duo.
On top of that, the Devils' power play unit has been an absolute nightmare for opponents. If their special teams continue clicking as they have been, Carolina’s penalty kill will face its toughest test yet.
The Devils have been one of the NHL’s most consistent teams at home. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, have been shaky in their last few outings at best, splitting their last 4 games.
Carolina’s lack of offensive firepower beyond Necas and Aho, coupled with injuries in goal, puts them at a slight disadvantage that we don’t think they’ll be able to overcome.
Meanwhile, the Devils’ depth and hot form make them the smarter pick heading into tonight’s game. Their ability to make the most of power plays and maintain defensive stability gives them the edge.
Best Bet: Take the Devils moneyline (-130)
We expect New Jersey to protect their home ice and keep the Hurricanes’ offense in check. The game will be close, so we’re not so sure about taking the puck line, but it should be a moneyline bet for the Devils.
BettorsInsider Prediction: Devils 4, Hurricanes 2