The Carolina Hurricanes can close out the New Jersey Devils in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Carolina’s offense, a legitimate concern before the playoffs, has broken out against the young Devils. The Hurricanes have scored 21 goals in four games, and each of the first four games has been decided by at least four goals.
Aside from lucrative puck-line odds, betting props, and especially player props, have produced exceptional value in this series.
Here’s a look at some game and player props I like for Game 5 between Carolina and New Jersey.
Hurricanes vs Devils Player Prop Odds • Game 5
Compare the best Stanley Cup playoff player prop lines below with our NHL odds:
Hurricanes vs Devils Player Props • Game 5
Jesper Fast: Over 0.5 Points (+120) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Hurricanes’ second line of Fast, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Jordan Martinook is becoming a major playoff-wide storyline. Fast has a point in every game in the series, and Martinook has four multi-point games in the series, which equals his total from 82 regular-season games.
I recommended Martinook to put up a point in Game 4, since it was the best value play at +165, and that hit. Martinook, Kotkaniemi, and Fast all have plus-money odds of producing a pint in Game 5, but Fast, who scored his second goal of the series in Game 4, has the longest odds, which makes him the best value play.
That’s why I’m recommending the veteran forward to produce either a goal or an assist as my NHL bet of the day.
Jack Hughes: Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (-110) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Devils coach Lindy Ruff hinted that Hughes has been trying to do too much by himself this series, and that it’s gotten New Jersey into trouble in games it lost. Still, Hughes has three goals and five points in the past two games and should be expected to play extra minutes if the Devils continue to deploy a lineup of 11 forwards and seven defensemen.
The Hurricanes are excellent shot suppressors, especially at home, but Hughes has already surpassed this prop twice in the series. Given New Jersey’s desperation, and difficulty generating offense other than Game 3, and Hughes should be firing from everywhere.
Hurricanes vs Devils Team Props • Game 5
Race to 3 Goals: Hurricanes (+120) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The winning team has won the race to three in each of the first four games in the series. New Jersey has allowed at least five goals in each of its six playoff losses and has surrendered four-plus in every game in the series.
I picked Carolina to clinch an Eastern Conference Final berth with a 5-2 win, but choosing the Hurricanes to win the race to three is a good hedge in case they don’t quite get to five goals again. Carolina winning the race to four (+195) is a great value play as well.
Devils Under 2.5 Goals (+110) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
New Jersey has scored 11 goals through four games, and that is deceptively high given the fact it scored eight goals in Game 3.
The Devils have yet to even reach two goals in the three games otherwise. The Hurricanes are a great home team — they’re 4-1 at PNC Arena in the playoffs and 10-2 there over the past two postseasons — mainly due to their ability to matchup lines.
The Devils were a great road team all season but have only scored three-plus goals in one of their five away games thus far. Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen has been lights out, posting a .930 save percentage in five starts despite surrendering four goals on 12 shots in Game 3.
Look for Carolina to hold the New Jersey offense down again.
Hurricanes vs Devils Game 4 Prop Tips
The Eastern Conference second-round series between the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes has been loaded with one-sided games.
Each game has been decided by four-plus goals, most recently New Jersey’s 8-4 win in Game 3 that pulled it within 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. There have been at least six goals in every game in the series and seven-plus in each of the past two.
The trend of lopsided games isn’t likely to continue since Carolina and New Jersey finished first and second and were separated by just one point in the Metropolitan Division standings.
If you’re unsure about which team will come out on top, or if the high-scoring trend will continue, trying a prop wager is a good alternative. Here are a few of my favorites for Game 4.
Hurricanes vs Devils Player Prop Odds • Game 4
Compare the best Stanley Cup playoff player prop lines below with our NHL odds:
Hurricanes vs Devils Player Props • Game 4
Timo Meier Anytime Goal (+145) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Meier scored his first goal and point of the playoffs in Game 3, which certainly will take some of the pressure off in the all-important Game 4.
Meier was tied for the most shots on goal of any player without a goal in the playoffs until his icebreaker in Game 3, which means he’s off the schneid. Plus, Devils coach, Lindy Ruff, intends to continue playing a lineup of 11 forwards and seven defensemen, which means the Swiss-born forward will be playing extra minutes.
Meier is likely to continue playing with center Jack Hughes and right wing Dawson Mercer, who combined for three goals and eight points in Game 3. Ruff is almost certain to keep that trio away from Carolina’s shutdown line of Jack Drury, Jordan Staal, and Martin Nečas as he did in the last game.
If the Staal line can’t get out against Meier’s group, there should be added space for the whole line. Take Meier to finish another goal.
Jordan Martinook Over 0.5 Points (+165) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
After failing to produce a point in the first round against the Islanders, Martinook has been an enormous X-factor in this series. He scored on a penalty shot in Game 3, a shorthanded goal, and has two goals and six points, including three multi-point games.
This is the time of the year when depth needs to shine, and Carolina’s depth has been a weapon this postseason. Martinook’s line, with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jesper Fast, has come up huge against New Jersey, combining for 10 points through three games.
The Over 0.5 points for Kotkaniemi, Fast, and Martinook are all plus-money, which makes them great value plays. But Martinook’s odds are the most lucrative, which is why I’m making him the pick.
Hurricanes vs Devils Team Props • Game 4
Race to 2 Goals: Devils (-125) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Hurricanes have both conceded the first goal and lost the race to two goals in seven of their past eight road games dating back to last season. Conversely, New Jersey has scored first in four straight games at Prudential Center.
If Carolina scores first, the likelihood is it will find a way to win, since the Canes’ style is conducive to getting ahead and holding the lead. I picked New Jersey to win by more than a goal since it can get favorable matchups and because it has outscored opponents 16-4 in its past three home playoff games.
If you agree the Devils will win, take them to win the race to two.
Hurricanes Under 2.5 Goals Excluding OT (-135) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Ruff said Tuesday he expects a 2-1 or 3-2 score in Game 4, which would fly in the face of what we all saw in the 1980s-style Game 3 on Sunday. Carolina hasn’t been held to two-or-fewer goals by the Devils in the series, but there will have to be a return to normal at some point.
Carolina has scored two-or-fewer goals in eight of its past 10 road playoff games but clinched its first-round series with a 2-1 win in OT on Long Island. There’s a chance the Hurricanes could win 3-2 in overtime, and this prop will still hit, which is why I chose to exclude overtime.
Hurricanes vs Devils Game 3 Prop Tips
Through two games, the New Jersey Devils vs Carolina Hurricanes series has been extremely one-sided.
But the Eastern Conference Second Round series shifts to the Garden State on Sunday for the pivotal Game 3.
Here’s a look at some prop wagers I like for Game 3 between New Jersey and Carolina.
Hurricanes vs Devils Player Prop Odds • Game 3
Compare the best Stanley Cup playoff player prop lines below with our NHL odds:
Hurricanes vs Devils Player Props • Game 3
Timo Meier Over 0.5 Points (-110) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Devils’ prize trade-deadline acquisition is overdue. He had nine of his 40 regular-season goals, and 14 points, in 21 games after New Jersey acquired him from the San Jose Sharks yet has yet to get on the scoresheet in eight playoff games.
Meier is tied for sixth-most shots on goal in the playoffs (32), coincidentally tied with Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns for most shots on goal without a goal of any player in the postseason. But Burns at least has five assists.
I think the Devils start their slow crawl back into this series in Game 3. If they do, Meier is going to have to get going.
Take the Swiss-born forward to produce a point as my NHL bet of the day.
Brett Pesce: Over 1.5 Blocked Shots (-140) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Pesce is a shot-blocking machine. The stalwart Carolina blueliner has blocked at least two shots in two of the Hurricanes’ past three games and five of their past seven, including his two blocks in Carolina’s 6-1 win in Game 2.
Carolina commits to blocking shots, but Pesce’s shot-blocking prowess has been especially prominent on the road. He’s surpassed two blocks in seven straight road playoff games dating back to last year.
Hurricanes vs Devils Team Props • Game 3
Race to 2 Goals: Devils (-115) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
New Jersey has allowed two goals total in its four playoff wins — though it did trail 2-o in the series and 1-0 in Game 3 in the first round against the Rangers.
Thus, the race to 2. I don’t think the Devils will turn around a 1-0 Carolina lead, but this is a solid hedge in case the Canes score first again but somehow cough up the advantage.
Carolina has conceded the first goal in five of its past six road playoff games and lost the race to 2 in seven of its past nine dating back to last season. Maybe the Devils win 2-1 in OT — as they did in Game 3 at MSG — which would blow this prop.
But the more likely scenario is a Devils tight regulation win and this prop hitting.
Both Teams Score At Least 2 Goals: No (+105) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Devils have allowed just two goals in their four wins, with goalie Akira Schmid picking up a pair of shutouts at Prudential Center in Games 5 and 7 against the Rangers. They’ve also scored only six goals in their five losses.
Both teams have only reached the two-goal mark in three of Carolina’s eight playoff games thus far. The Hurricanes have eight goals in three road games this season.
I predicted the scored to be 3-1. If that’s right, this prop will hit.
Hurricanes vs Devils Game 2 Prop Tips
The New Jersey Devils will try to level their Eastern Conference Second Round series against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 on Friday in Raleigh.
Carolina scored the game’s first three goals then stymied New Jersey at every turn in its 5-1 win in Game 1. Game 2 expects to be much more competitive, which means prop betting is a good option given the uncertainty about which team will win.
Here’s a look at some player and game props I like for Game 2.
Hurricanes vs Devils Player Prop Odds • Game 2
Compare the best Stanley Cup playoff player prop lines below with our NHL odds:
Hurricanes vs Devils Player Props • Game 2
Jack Hughes: Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (-130) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
I went with this prediction for Game 1, and in hindsight it wasn’t smart to predict Hughes to produce any level of offense in Game 1. He finished with two shots on goal, and the Devils put just 18 at Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen in Game 1.
But Game 2 should be a different story. Hughes is third among still-active players in postseason shots (34) and averaged 4.1 per game during the regular season.
The Devils are almost certain to produce more than one shot on goal in the first period and will undoubtedly make adjustments designed at penetrating the Carolina defense. Hughes should be firing at every opportunity in Game 2.
Take Hughes to surpass his shots prop as our NHL bet of the day.
Dougie Hamilton Over 0.5 Points (-115) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Carolina’s defense has been the most active offensively in the league this season, and it’s time the Devils’ top offensive blueliner got going. Hamilton led New Jersey defensemen with 74 points during the regular season but has not gotten on the scoresheet in four games.
As Hamilton goes, so too does the Devils’ offense, especially on the road where he had three points in their two first-round road wins. Taking Hamilton to score an anytime goal (+330) or produce a power-play point (+290) is worth a sprinkle too, but at these odds, one point is too good to pass up.
Hurricanes vs Devils Team Props • Game 2
First Goal: New Jersey (-105) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
This should be a super-competitive series, with momentum spikes and other twists and turns that each team will have to navigate.
Carolina can usually lock things down if it gets a lead, and the Devils are 3-1 when scoring first this postseason. New Jersey looked shell-shocked in the first period of Game 1 but should be more competitive Friday.
If you think the Devils are going to knot the series, betting them to score first is the play — especially given the fact the first-goal odds are identical to the moneyline odds for Game 2.
Hurricanes Under 2.5 Goals Excluding OT (-115) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Devils have allowed exactly five goals in each of their four playoff defeats and have surrendered two goals in their four wins.
If you think the Devils will win, Carolina U2.5 is a lock. But the five-goal trend will regress at some point, and given the potential for a 3-2 overtime win for Carolina — the Canes have defeated the Devils in OT in Game 2 in three of their four head-to-head series — this prop is a solid hedge in case it’s a tight, low-scoring game that ends after regulation.
Hurricanes vs Devils Game 1 Prop Tips
The New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes will renew their rivalry when they face off in their the second round of the Eastern Conference NHL playoffs.
The Hurricanes are 3-1 in playoff series against the Devils, most recently claiming a seven-game victory in the first round in 2009. Carolina advanced for the third straight year by holding off the New York Islanders in six games, and New Jersey qualified with a seven-game win over the New York Rangers.
The series should be super-competitive, so it’s understandable if you’re unsure who will ultimately advance. But if you still are interested in wagering, player, team, and game props are a viable alternative.
Here are some props I like for Game 1 of the best-of-7 series between the Hurricanes and Devils.
Hurricanes vs Devils Player Prop Odds • Game 1
Compare the best Stanley Cup playoff player prop lines below with our NHL odds:
Hurricanes vs Devils Player Props • Game 1
Jack Hughes: Over 3.5 Shots on Goal (-115) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Hughes is leading the Devils with 32 shots on goal in the playoffs and has at least five shots in four of their past six games. The Devils’ star center has 19 shots in three road games, including an eye-popping nine on net in New Jersey’s 5-2 loss to the Rangers in Game 6 of the first round.
The Hurricanes are great at shot suppression. They allowed the fewest shots on goal per game of any team (26.0) and are giving up the second-fewest in the playoffs (29.0), but the Rangers only allowed 29.4 per game against the Devils, and Hughes still hit the Over four times.
Take Hughes to fire at will as the NHL bet of the day.
Stefan Noesen: Over 0.5 Points (+110) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Noesen joined star center Sebastian Aho on Carolina’s top line and became an x-factor in its first-round series win. He had four points, including two goals, in six games and scored the game-winning-goal in Game 1 against the Islanders.
Noesen’s nose for the net and willingness to go to tough areas on the ice is integral this time of the year. It’s the reason he’s a half-point-per-game player for his career in the playoffs, despite producing just 0.31 ppg in the regular season, and has scored three goals in 10 career postseason games.
There’s also a market inefficiency to take advantage of with this pick. Aho’s odds of producing a point (-165) carry an implied probability of 62.27 percent, and linemate Seth Jarvis‘ odds (-105) of one point has a .52 percent chance of hitting.
Chances are that if one, or both, produce at least one point, so will Noesen, even though his implied probability is 47.6 percent. Thus, I’ll take the more lucrative payout that the top-line left wing will get on the scoresheet Wednesday.
Hurricanes vs Devils Team Props • Game 1
Race to 2 Goals: Carolina (-105) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Hurricanes are well-rested, and the inexperienced Devils have barely come down from the high of knocking off their biggest rivals. Thus, I’m expecting a bit of a letdown from New Jersey, especially early, in Game 1.
Carolina swarmed the Islanders in Game 1, scoring twice in the first period before holding on for a 2-1 win. I’d expect Game 1 of the Devils series to play out similarly because if it doesn’t take advantage, Carolina could be in huge trouble.
Devils Under 2.5 Total Goals (-110) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
New Jersey has scored two or fewer goals in four of its seven games against the Rangers, and this should be an extremely low-scoring series given Carolina’s anemic offense and shot and goal-suppression capabilities.
There’s a chance the Devils could score two and win Wednesday since they are 1-3 when scoring fewer than three goals. The odds dictate this is a coin flip, but I think it’s a lock.
