The Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers meet for Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals playoff series Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Hurricanes lead the series 3-2. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN), Below, we look at the Hurricanes vs. Rangers odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
The Hurricanes head to New York hoping their 6th playoff road game will be a charm. Carolina was in a 5-way tie for the most road wins during the regular season, but so far it is 0-5 in 5 road playoff outings.
The Rangers are facing an elimination game, but they have excelled in the playoffs with their backs against the wall. New York won 3 elimination games in the 1st round to advance after going down 3-1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Hurricanes at Rangers odds and lines
- Money line: Hurricanes -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Rangers -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Hurricanes -1.5 (+205) | Rangers +1.5 (-300)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: +120 | U: -150)
Hurricanes at Rangers projected goalies
Antti Raanta (6-4-0, 1.99 GAA, .931 SV%, 1 SO – postseason) vs Igor Shesterkin (6-5-0, 2.80 GAA, .924 SV% – postseason)
Raanta has been on fire in these playoffs, easily the most experience he has ever had in the postseason. He has allowed 2 or fewer goals in 5 of his past 6 starts, with the lone exception being 4 goals allowed in Game 5.
Shesterkin has allowed 3 or fewer goals in each of his last 8 starts since getting pulled in Game 4 in Pittsburgh in the 1st round. He allowed just 1 goal on 31 shots in his most recent home start against Carolina in Game 4 of this series.
Money line
The HURRICANES (-115) are slight favorites in this elimination game, as the books give them the edge. Carolina is due for a victory, and it appeared to solve its power-play problems with a goal on the man advantage in Game 5. Still, the Hurricanes are just 1-for-21 on the power play on the road in the postseason.
Against the spread
The Rangers +1.5 (-300) will cost you three times your potential return if you’d like a little insurance and don’t trust them straight up. That’s not a good long-term betting strategy.
PASS, and just bet New York straight up if you like them. I believe their time is up, however, and Carolina finally gets it done away from home.
Over/Under
The UNDER 5.5 (-150) is a little on the expensive side, but that’s because the total hasn’t gone Over in 5 games in this series. The Under has cashed in 6 straight for the Hurricanes, too. The way Raanta and Shesterkin have been playing, there is no sense changing to the Over now.
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