Game 6 Rangers vs Hurricanes NHL Odds and Preview
Carolina Eyes Third Consecutive; New York Hoping to Eliminate Hurricanes, Dodge Game 7
The Carolina Hurricanes will try to ward off elimination again when they host the New York Rangers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at PNC Arena on Thursday.
Carolina has won two straight, rallying with four third-period goals in its 4-1 win over the Rangers in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden on Monday. Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the eventual game-winning goal at 6:39 of the third period, and Jack Drury had two assists for the Hurricanes.
Igor Shesterkin stopped 24 shots, and Jacob Trouba scored his first goal of the playoffs, a short-handed goal in the second period. But the Rangers dropped their first playoff game at home this season.
Despite its two straight losses, the New York Rangers still finished atop the standings as Presidents’ Trophy winners, and they still have two chances to advance to the Eastern Conference Final, despite the growing pressure on them.
The Rangers vs Hurricanes NHL odds for Game 6 are as follows.
Day/Time:
Location: PNC Arena
Streaming: TNT, truTV, MAX
Pressure Mounts on Rangers
New York still needs just one win to reach the Eastern Conference Final, but it suddenly is battling more than just Carolina.
The Rangers and fans are starting to worry and for good reason. Teams with a 3-0 series advantage are 205-4 all-time (.981), but teams that lead 3-2 are 351-93 (.791) all-time, which is still a dominant record but far less certain.
The Rangers have been outplayed for large periods in the series, yet they had the edge in goal with Shesterkin and have been opportunistic, especially due to their special teams.
But Carolina hasn’t exactly been stymied by Shesterkin, since it is averaging 3.2 goals per game in the series. Plus, in the past two games, Shesterkin has allowed seven goals on 58 shots (.879 save%) and has a -0.97 goals-saved above average.
Plus, the Rangers power play is starting to copy Carolina’s in of ineffectiveness. New York started the postseason 10 for 24 (41.6%) on the power play but has not scored in its past eight power plays over the past three games.
It’s been 30 years since the Rangers last won the Cup, and they already have that heat on them. But if New York loses Game 6, which given its +140 odds it has a 59% chance to do, it’ll also have the potential for dubious history to face in Game 7.
Carolina Veterans Come to Play
In Game 4, it was Carolina’s power play that came to life. In Game 5 it was the Hurricanes’ dominant depth and veteran leadership.
Captain Jordan Staal got the scoring going with a powerful move to the net to beat Shesterkin, with Dmitry Orlov picking up the primary assist, then Kuznetsov stashed a rebound past Shesterkin, giving Carolina the lead for good. Three of Carolina’s five previous Stanley Cup winners had points, with two of them recording goals, in Game 5.
The Hurricanes signed Orlov and Kuznetsov to help them finally scale the playoff mountain, and they delivered in Carolina’s biggest game of the year.
They also took the heat off the club’s moribund power play and its most important scorers, Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Jake Guentzel, who had no points and were -2 combined while New York coach Peter Laviolette matched up to stop them.
Home-Ice Advantage
Home teams may be 28-32 in the playoffs this year, but if you’ve followed the Carolina Hurricanes NHL schedule over the past three postseasons you know they have been a different club in Raleigh.
Carolina is a -170 favorite for Game 6, which gives it a 59% implied probability to win. The Canes are 3-2 in Raleighwood this playoff year, but they are 16-5 over the past three postseasons at PNC Arena and are 24-10 there under coach Rod Brind’Amour.
The Rangers have been a great road team all season, and they’ll definitely have fans in the building for Game 6. New York was 25-16 against the moneyline away from MSG this regular season and is 3-1 on the road during the playoffs, including a 3-2 overtime win in Game 3.
But all the underlying numbers favor Carolina, since it holds a 59-38 shots-for advantage and 5.3-4.2 Expected Goals edge at PNC Arena in the series despite its minus-1 goal differential there.
Plus, if the Canes have solved Shesterkin, which it appears they have, they might be able to roll in Game 6.
Game 6 Prediction
Another Carolina win, and all those Brind’Amour-to-Toronto NHL rumors will probably be silenced for good.
Bring on Game 7.
Carolina 4, New York 2
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