In their third head-to-head matchup of the regular season, the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Rangers face off at Madison Square Garden in a Metro Division showdown. MSG Network will showcase the game, which gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, March 12.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers Odds
Carolina (-145) is currently favored over New York (+125), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-120 for the under, +100 for the over).
New York is 30-39 straight up (SU) and has recorded -9.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a noticeable slide from what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (48-34). Among the team’s 69 games this season, 36 have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 18-17 SU at home this year.
The Rangers have converted on 20.2 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.9 percent of all penalties.
The Rangers, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties just 3.5 times per game overall this season, 3.0 per game over their past five contests total, and 3.2 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.
Averaging 29.2 saves per game with a .916 save percentage, Henrik Lundqvist (25-33-6) has been the primary goalkeeper for New York this season. If head coach Alain Vigneault decides to give him the night off, however, New York might turn to Ondrej Pavelec (5-11-11 record, .910 save percentage, 3.01 goals against average).
Vladislav Namestnikov and Mats Zuccarello will both be focal points for the Rangers. Namestnikov (46 points) has tallied 21 goals and 25 assists and has recorded two or more points 10 times this year. Zuccarello has 12 goals and 34 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 35 contests.
Carolina is 30-38 straight up (SU) and has lost 12.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 38 of its matches have gone under the total, while 28 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Hurricanes are 14-20 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Hurricanes have converted on 19.1 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 22nd overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
Carolina’s skaters have been penalized only 2.8 times per game this season, 2.4 per game over their last five contests total, and 2.6 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 6.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cam Ward (2.70 goals against average and .907 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Carolina. Ward is averaging 24.8 saves per game and owns a 19-17-4 record.
Teuvo Teravainen (19 goals, 34 assists) has been one of the top offensive playmakers for the visiting Hurricanes.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Rangers, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Carolina is 3-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while New York is 3-5 in shootouts.
The under has hit in three of New York’s last five outings.
The Hurricanes have averaged the league’s fifth-most shots on goal (34.2) and New York has attempted the 20th-most (only 31.6).
New York has managed just 2.0 goals per game, while allowing 4.0, on its three-game losing streak.
Over Carolina’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
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