The New York Rangers try again to steal home ice from the Carolina Hurricanes Friday in Game 2 of their best-of-7 Eastern Conference semifinal series. Carolina leads 1-0 after taking Wednesday’s opener 2-1 in overtime. Puck drop for Game 2 from PNC Arena is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we look at the Rangers vs. Hurricanes Game 2 odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
Things looked bleak for the ‘Canes late in Game 1 before C Sebastian Aho tied it at 1-all with just 2:23 to go in regulation. It wasn’t long before D Ian Cole sent the crowd home happy with the game-winner 3:12 into the extra frame. His shot from the point deflected off a Rangers player’s stick and redirected into the net.
Carolina started slow, while the Rangers were aggressive early outshooting the ‘Canes 23-14 in the first 2 periods. But Carolina found a way to get it done. It was a clean game as each side went 0-for-1 on the power play. Carolina tallied 40 hits to New York’s 31.
How will the Rangers respond knowing they had Game 1 in hand?
New York LWs Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider were kept quiet with just 3 shots on goal and a -1 between them. They will need to be more involved for the Rangers to steal Game 2 – a tough task considering Carolina is 5-0 on home ice these playoffs.
Rangers at Hurricanes odds and lines
- Money line: Rangers +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Hurricanes -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Rangers +1.5 (-190) | Hurricanes -1.5 (+145)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: +100 | U: -125)
Rangers at Hurricanes projected goalies
Igor Shesterkin (4-3, 3.42 GAA, .911 SV% – postseason) vs. Antti Raanta (4-2, 2.13 GAA, .933 SV% – postseason)
Shesterkin had his best game in the playoffs since the 79-save, triple-overtime nightmare that was Game 1 in the first round against Pittsburgh. But the Rangers still lost this opener, and he really has struggled outside of these two games. You have to wonder where his confidence level is. Shesterkin was 0-2 with a 3.63 GAA and .883 SV% against Carolina in the regular season.
Raanta has now given up just 5 goals in 5 playoff home games for a ridiculous .962 SV%. He was vastly better at home during the season, too, with a 10-2-1 record, 2.06 GAA and .924 SV% vs. 5-3, 2.87 GAA and .900 SV% on the road. He didn’t face the Rangers in the regular season.
Money line
There’s two ways to look at this. The Rangers came really close to stealing Game 1, and they can use that momentum to shift the tides in Game 2. The ‘Canes also mustered up enough guile to squeeze by after a slow start and could continue to roll.
With the quality of goaltending they’re getting, and how great they have been at home all season, we’re going with HURRICANES 175) for a FULL UNIT.
Against the spread
I prefer the Rangers +1.5 (-190) here, but there’s no way we’re risking that much. Conversely, the ‘Canes haven’t been potent enough to trust on the puck line. So, we’ll PASS there.
I would go lightly on the HURRICANES IN REGULATION (-107) for a decent value. In their 4 previous home wins, Carolina outscored Boston 18-6 with no OT games.
Over/Under
PASS.
This one can go either way as Carolina put up 5 goals on Boston 3 times at home in the last series. The Over 5.5 (+100) presents some value at even money, and I would take that if I were forced to choose.
If anything, let the puck drop and see if someone scores early to get a chance to take an “in-game line” of Under 6.5.