The New York Rangers welcome the Carolina Hurricanes to Madison Square Garden for Game 2 on Tuesday after picking up a 4-3 Game 1 win, and we're offering our Hurricanes-Rangers predictions based on the best NHL odds.
Including a 4-3 Game 1 victory, the New York Rangers (55-23-4) have won seven straight games. They're now the favorites to advance to the Eastern Conference Final, according to our best sports betting sites. And for the first time since the playoffs started, the Carolina Hurricanes (52-23-7) lost their status as the Stanley Cup odds favorites. Game 2 starts at 7 p.m. ET in New York on Tuesday.
The Hurricanes' first period in Game 1 resembled the script of a Stephen King novel. It was equal measures weird and frightening, with an added dash of criminality. They took two penalties, both resulting in Rangers goals, and al lowed three first-period goals for the fifth time in the team's last 88 games.
Accompanying our Bruins-Panthers predictions, here are our best Hurricanes vs. Rangers predictions and NHL picks (odds via our best NHL betting sites; Pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Hurricanes vs. Rangers Game 1 expert picks
- Under 5.5 goals (-115 at FanDuel) ????
- Mika Zibanejad Over 0.5 assists (-110 via DraftKings) ????
- Hurricanes ML vs. Rangers (-118 via FanDuel) ???
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Hurricanes vs. Rangers predictions for Tuesday
I'm going back to the Under in Game 2 after seeing it crumble in Game 1. I've been struggling to lift my jaw from the ground after witnessing the outrageous four-goal first-period outburst in Game 1. But I'm hoping it returns to its original position after Game 2, which should also follow the more normal and expected defensive script. Rest assured, the Hurricanes will think twice before taking penalties after the Rangers went 2-for-2 with the man advantage in the opener.
After the four-goal first-period explosion, two of the league's best defensive teams combined for three goals. That was more of what I was expecting from the opening puck drop.
Frederik Andersen allowed more than three goals for just the second time in 16 starts since returning from an injury, so expect the Hurricanes to be immeasurably better in their own end and far more disciplined in the opening 20 minutes.
At -115, FanDuel offers the best value and will pay a profit of $8.70 on a winning $10 bet. The impl ied probability is 53.49%.
Best odds: -115 at FanDuel
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Let's ride Mika Zibanejad's assist streak until the wheels fly into the stands. At least the protective netting will be there to prevent any injury when that happens.
Zibanejad scored three points in the opening 20 minutes during Game 1, one of which was a helper. He's registered at least one apple in 11 straight games and is playing at a level reminiscent of the 2021-22 playoffs, when the Rangers ousted the Hurricanes and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final.
The veteran leads the Rangers with 10 points in five playoff games. The Swede's white-hot streak will end eventually. Let's just hope that doesn't happen in Game 5.
Of our best sports betting apps, DraftKings offers supreme value. At -110, you'll receive a $9.09 profit on a winning $10 wager. The -110 odds imply a winning probability of 52.38%.
Best odds:  ;-110 via DraftKings
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I expect the Hurricanes to transform from a grossly hungover Clark Kent to Superman in Game 2. Head coach Rod Brind'Amour expects unerring excellence from his contingent, who won't make the same hare-brained blunders they did in the opening period of the series. Carolina was much better as the game progressed, but the team left itself too much to overcome. It hasn't lost back-to-back games since late February, and the Hurricanes have won 18 of their previous 26 outings.
Admittedly, the Rangers as a collective are almost as hot as Zibanejad. However, their seven-game winning streak must end at some point, and probably sooner than later considering the usually elite level of their Metropolitan Division foes.
FanDuel offers the best value, and it's marginally better than the -120 offered at BetMGM, Caesars, and bet365. A winning $10 bet pays a profit of $8.47 and comes with an implied probabilit y of 54.13%.
Best odds: -118 via FanDuel
Hurricanes vs. Rangers Game 2 info & odds
- When: Tuesday, May 7
- Puck drop: 7 p.m. ET
- Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
- How to watch: Sportsnet, ESPN
- Favorite: Hurricanes (-118 via FanDuel)
Hurricanes-Rangers predictions made Monday at 1 p.m. ET.
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