Two teams facing each other for the second time this season, the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Rangers take the ice at Madison Square Garden for a Metropolitan Division matchup. The action will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, December 1, and it will be broadcasted live on MSG Network.
Carolina Hurricanes at New York Rangers Odds
New York is 13-12 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a slide from what the team recorded during the 2016-17 season (48-34). Through 25 regular season outings, 15 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while nine have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 10-7 SU at home this year.
The Rangers have converted on 21.4 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.5 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Rangers have been called for penalties just 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to defend opposition power plays for just 7.5 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 27.0 saves per game with a .914 save percentage, Henrik Lundqvist (12 wins, 10 losses, and two OT losses) has been the primary option in goal for New York this season. If New York decides to give him a rest, however, it might go with Ondrej Pavelec (1-5-5 record, .889 save percentage, 3.56 goals against average).
The Broadway Blueshirts will continue looking for offensive production via Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich. Zibanejad (22 points) has tallied 11 goals and 11 assists and has recorded two or more points on five different occasions this year. Buchnevich has nine goals and 11 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 13 contests.
On the other side of the ice, Carolina is 10-13 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through 23 regular season contests, 13 of its games have gone over the total, while nine have gone under and just one has pushed. As the road team so far, the Hurricanes are 5-6 SU.
The Hurricanes have converted on just 15.6 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 23rd overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Carolina’s skaters have been called for penalties only 2.5 times per game this season, 2.8 per game over their last five match ups total, and 2.0 per game over their last five road outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 5.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Scott Darling (2.66 goals against average and .905 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Carolina. Darling is averaging 24.8 saves per game and owns a 7-11-5 record.
For the visiting Hurricanes, the offense will run through Teuvo Teravainen (eight goals, 13 assists) and Sebastian Aho (five goals, 13 assists).
Carolina Hurricanes at New York Rangers Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Over New York’s last ten outings, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
The Hurricanes are 4-1 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Rangers are 5-5 SU in games where they serve more minutes than their opponent.
Two of Carolina’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-3 overall in shootouts this season.
The over has hit in three of New York’s last five outings.
New York skaters have averaged 16.4 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 15.2 giveaways per game (ranked 30th).
Carolina is ranked 18th this season with 9.9 giveaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as it’s averaged 12.5 giveaways over its last 10 games and 14.6 giveaways over its last five.
