There's just a single game on the ice Friday, and all eyes will be on the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils in Game 2 of their second-round series. Sportsbook Review betting analyst Neil Parker offers his insights and top pick based on the best NHL odds across our best sports betting sites.
New Jersey is looking to rebound in Game 2, and the Devils have been here before after dropping Game 1 of the first round to the New York Rangers 5-1. Avoiding the 0-2 deficit they faced in Round 1 after also losing 5-1 in Game 2 will be priority No. 1 for the Devils.
The importance of Game 2 was also reinforced again this spring with six of the eight remaining playoff teams winning the second game of their respective Round 1 series. New Jersey and the Seattle Kraken are the two outliers.
Statistically, the lopsided Game 1 result betwee n Carolina and New Jersey was much closer than the final score. The Devils actually registered slightly more high-danger scoring chances (52.9%) and expected goals at five-on-five (51.5%), and the two teams tied with exactly 17 shots and 41 attempts.
The big question is whether Devils' rookie netminder Akira Schmid can bounce back from his early exit in Game 1 after allowing three goals on just 11 shots and being pulled shortly into the second period.
He obviously wasn't going to maintain a .951 save percentage throughout the postseason, but the Bern-born Schmid will need to tidy up to keep the Devils in this series.
Here is our best Devils vs. Hurricanes pick for Game 2 (odds via DraftKings; pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Devils vs. Hurricanes pick
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Goals aside, New Jersey's best players driving five-on-five play and generating more quality chances than the best players jumping the boards for Carolina during Game 1.
There is also screaming offensive statistical correction ahead for the Devils.
New Jersey sports the lowest team shooting percentage among postseason teams at five-on-five, and its 4.6 mark is far below the 8.6 percentage posted during the regular season.
Perhaps even more glaring is the Devils have also registered the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes with the lowest team HDSC shooting percentage on at five-on-five during the postseason. Again, the difference of the 9.0 mark during the playoffs is lagging way behind their 16.3 reg ular-season percentage.
Finally, the implied probability of the Devils winning in regulation is just 38.5% based on the DraftKings odds, and I consider the +130 (43.5% implied probability) price PointsBet is hanging to be a more accurate number.
Devils vs. Hurricanes best odds
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Caesars | PointsBet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devils regulation win | Devils regulation win | Devils regulation win | Devils regulation win | Devils regulation win |
| +160 ?? | +155 | +150 | +135 | +130 ?? |
As noted, there is a nice gap in the available odds for this bet across our best NHL betting sites. The difference between the highlighted +130 number and +160 is a positive expected value of 13% and an added $3 on a winning $10 ticket.
It's definitely also worth highlighting the best price for the Carolina moneyline is -102 through FanDuel. That's a potential pivot for prospective bettors preferring a two-way market.
I've graded this bet with a three-star nod because of the nice advantage highlighted in the odds. Additionally, if opting into the moneyline market instead of the regulation bet, I'd assess a four-star recommendation.
Devils vs. Hurricanes odds
Devils vs. Hurricanes odds analysis
There's been limite d line movement to the moneyline, puck line, and total of this game as of Friday morning.
The Under is carrying the higher vig at all five of our best sportsbooks, and the Hurricanes are receiving slight consensus chalk on the moneyline. Carolina backers will want to head to avoid Caesars (-125) and FanDuel (-118) with multiple shops listing the Hurricanes as a -115 home favorite.
Devils vs. Hurricanes game info
- Date: Friday, May 5, 8 p.m. ET
- TV: TNT, Sportsnet
- Location: PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
Devils-Hurricanes pick made 5/5/2023 at 10:15 a.m. ET.
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