Game 2 between the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes is the lone contest in the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday. Sportsbook Review betting analyst Neil Parker has assessed the matchup and provides his Devils vs. Hurricanes same-game parlay based on the top NHL odds across our best sportsbooks.
The Hurricanes stormed out to a quick lead in Game 1 and never looked back. Carolina held New Jersey to a single first-period shot, and the Devils failed to kick-start a realistic comeback bid.
Jersey could receive a lineup boost with Timo Meier (upper body) a game-time decision Friday, and the Devils also rebounded from a 0-2 deficit to top the New York Rangers in Round 1.
The importance of Game 2 in an NHL playoff series continues to prove critical with six of the eight teams that advanced to Round 2 this spring also winning the second game of thei r opening round series. New Jersey will be looking to avoid an 0-2 start again this time around, and I expect them to give the home-favorite Hurricanes all they can handle Friday.
Here are our best Devils vs. Hurricanes SGP picks (odds via FanDuel; pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Devils vs. Hurricanes SGP picks
- New Jersey Devils -1.5 (+250) ??
- Nico Hischier anytime goal scorer (+230) ??
Combined odds: +664
Not intended for use in MA
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Devils vs. Hurricanes odds
Devils vs. Hurricanes picks
The Devils are a short road underdog after losing Game 1 on Wednesday, but I think the odds are wrong.
It was a fairly even end result statistical ly in Game 1. New Jersey had a slight edge in high-danger scoring chances (52.9%) and expected goals at five-on-five (51.5%), and the two teams each finished with 17 shots and 41 attempts.
I also highlighted the statistical correction ahead for the Devils in our picks,predictions and odds piece, so expect puck luck to turn to New Jersey's favor beginning Friday. Simply put, the Devils cannot continue to rack up high-danger scoring chances and fail to find the back of the net at their current rate.
The Jersey captain has without doubt been the most snakebitten Devil. Hischier has registered 3.68 expected goals and 21 individual high-danger scoring chances without scoring across eight postseason games.
He finished his breakout regular season with 31 goals and a 12.1 shooting percentage, so the 24-year-old center is staring positive regression directly in the eye.
Hischier also drove possession in Game 1 with a 59.1 Corsi For percentage while spending the bulk of his five-on-five ice time opposite Carolina's vulnerable second line of inexperienced center Jesperi Kotkaniemi and depth wingers Jesper Fast and Jordan Martinook.
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Devils vs. Hurricanes SGP odds analysis
I opted to look for long odds to keep this same-game parlay to just two legs while still offering a decent payout. Unfortunately, we're taking a huge correlation hit with this SGP, though.
The +230 and +235 odds have a true parlay number of +1055, according to our trusty parlay calculator. DraftKings also has the Devils -1.5 alternative line priced at +250. However, it's definitely interesting that an anytime goal from Hischier is trading higher at +240, and its SGP odds for the two legs (+625) is actually lower.
Because of the highlighted correlation hit, I wouldn't fault anyone for simply playing either/both of these bets on their own. Additionally, I also like the Devils to win in regulation as another potential pivot.
Devils vs. Hurricanes game info
- Date: Friday, May 5, 8 p.m. ET
- TV: TNT, Sportsnet
- Location: PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
Devils vs. Hurricanes pick made 5/5/2023 at 1:45 p.m. ET.
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