New York hosts Carolina on Sunday to open their second-round series, as we offer our expert Hurricanes vs. Rangers Game 1 predictions based on the best NHL odds.
The Carolina Hurricanes (52-23-7) and New York Rangers (55-23-4) share more similarities than fraternal twins, and the division rivals are plenty familiar with each other after facing off in the second round in the 2021-22 NHL playoffs. They meet again Sunday for Game 1, with puck drop set for 4 p.m. ET on ESPN from Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Rangers are underdogs to advance, according to our best sports betting sites, despite winning the Presidents' Trophy and finishing three points ahead of Carolina in the regular season. Even so, the Hurricanes remain atop the latest Stanley Cup odds and are dealing at -110 to win Sunday's series opener.
Here are our best Hurr icanes vs. Rangers predictions and NHL picks (odds via our best NHL betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Hurricanes vs. Rangers Game 1 expert picks
- Hurricanes ML (-110 via FanDuel) ????
- Under 5.5 goals (-110 via DraftKings) ????
- Under 1.5 goals in first period (-125 via DraftKings) ???
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Hurricanes vs. Rangers predictions for Sunday
The Hurricanes have won 18 of their previous 23 games entering Game 1. While the regular season doesn't bear much significance, Carolina has been smoking hot for over a month.
Frederik Andersen is 13-2 since returning from a long-term injury abse nce and is playing the best hockey of his career. The Hurricanes' netminder missed the 2021-22 second-round series between these two teams and will be steely focused to make up for lost time.
In addition, the Rangers barely spilled a drop of sweat in their sweep of the Washington Capitals, and the Hurricanes were made to work marginally harder in their gentleman's sweep of the New York Islanders.
New York last played on Sunday, April 28, potentially leading to a slight rust build-up. It might take the Rangers a period or two to get up to full speed, which often proves fatal against the Hurricanes – who were my prediction to win the Stanley Cup.
At -110, FanDuel offers the best odds of our best sports betting apps, providing a profit of $9.09 on a winning $10 bet. The implied probability on those odds is 52.38%.
Best odds: -110 via FanD uel
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Five of seven games in these teams' 2021-22 playoff series cashed the Under, including a 2-1 Carolina victory in Game 1.
Both netminders are in peak form heading into this series, with Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin carrying the best save percentage (.931) into the second round. Despite not being tested nearly enough by the Caps, Shesterkin has the fourth-best goals saved above expected (4.4) through one round.
The opening game of any series usually has a cagey, feeling-it-out vibe. That should be amplified with these two defensive stalwarts. Unless either team takes a rash of penalties, chances should be at a premium. Two of the four Rangers' first-round games hit the Under – with Game 4 going Over due to an empty-netter – while three of the Hurricanes' games against the Islanders went Under.
DraftKings and BetMGM offer -110 odds, which will pay a profit of $9.09 on a $10 winni ng bet. The -110 odds imply a winning probability of 52.38%.
Best odds: -110 via DraftKings
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I expect a cagey first period, with both teams erring on the side of caution. Nobody wants to make a mistake that leads to the opening goal of the series. Neither team has played in almost a week, which could also impact the opening 20 minutes as both teams get up to speed and break free of any accrued rust.
The Rangers vs. Caps series opened with a scoreless first period, an outcome which Shesterkin and Andersen are equipped to emulate. DraftKings offers odds of -125, implying a 55.56% probability. A winning $10 bet will pay an $8 profit.
Best odds: -125 via DraftKings
Hurricanes vs. Rangers Game 1 info & odds
- When: Sunday, May 3
- Puck drop: 4 p.m. ET
- Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
- How to watch: Sportsnet, ESPN
- Favorite: Hurricanes (-110 via FanDuel)
Hurricanes-Rangers predictions made Friday at 2 p.m. ET.
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