The Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils meet Tuesday in game 4 of the NHL East Second Round Playoffs at the Prudential Center. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
The Carolina Hurricanes are averaging 3.44 goals per game and are scoring on 18.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Sebastian Aho leads Carolina with 5 goals, Brent Burns has 5 assists and Jordan Martinook has 25 shots on goal. Defensively, the Carolina Hurricanes are allowing 2.78 goals per game and are killing 92.6 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Antti Raanta has allowed 13 goals on 139 shots faced, and Frederik Andersen has given up 7 goals on 93 shots.
The New Jersey Devils are averaging 2.70 goals per game and are scoring on 15.2 percent of their power play opportunities. Jack Hughes leads New Jersey with 5 goals, Nico Hischier has 6 assists and Timo Meier has 35 shots on goal. Defensively, the New Jersey Devils are allowing 2.30 goals per game and are killing 82.9 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Vitek Vanecek has allowed 16 goals on 103 shots faced, and Akira Schmid has given up 14 goals on 178 shots.
The Hurricanes are 27-13 in their last 40 games playing on 1 days rest and 48-22 in their last 70 overall. The Devils are 8-2 in their last 10 home games and 5-2 in their last 7 Conference Semifinals games. The over is 6-1-1 in Hurricanes last 8 overall. The over is 4-1 in Devils last 5 overall. The Hurricanes are 2-7 in the last 9 meetings in New Jersey and 7-3 in the last 10 meetings. The home team is 16-5 in the last 21 meetings. The favorite is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
The New Jersey Devils should be favored at home, where they’ve played terrific hockey as of late and just blasted the Canes in game 3. However, the value is still on the Hurricanes and the plus money, especially when you factor in they’ve still won 7 of the last 10 meetings against the Devils. Also, this will be just the ninth time since November 25 the Hurricanes as underdogs. You just don’t get this team at these sorts of prices. Give me the road dog based on the value.