The Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils continue their best-of-7 Eastern Conference semifinals series Sunday in Game 3. Puck drop from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET (TBS). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Hurricanes vs. Devils odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Hurricanes rolled to a commanding 2-0 series lead by winning the 1st 2 games in Raleigh by a combined 11-2 score. The Canes routed the Devils 6-1 in Game 2 on Friday, as 5 different scorers lit the lamp, led by Jesperi Kotkaniemi with a pair of markers.
The Devils slipped into an 0-2 series hole on home ice in the 1st round against the New York Rangers, but were able to bounce back. It’s a dangerous game New Jersey is playing, however, as it must win 4 of the next 5 games against a red-hot Canes team if it wishes to advance.
New Jersey’s Timo Meier, the big-ticket acquisition in the NHL at the trade deadline, returned in Game 2 after suffering a huge blow in Game 7 of the Rangers series. While he missed just 1 game, he has been mostly invisible for the entire playoffs, going without a point in all 8 playoff games.
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Hurricanes at Devils odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 11:46 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Hurricanes +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Devils -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Hurricanes +1.5 (-250) | Devils -1.5 (+200)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: +105 | U: -130)
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Hurricanes at Devils projected goalies
Frederik Andersen (21-11-1, 2.48 GAA, .903 SV%, 1 SO – regular season) vs. Vitek Vanecek (33-11-4, 2.45 GAA, .911 SV%, 3 SO – regular season)
Andersen was plugged into the lineup by coach Rod Brind’Amour in Game 6 against the New York Islanders, and “The Great Dane” has been nothing short of spectacular. He allowed just a single goal on 29 shots in Game 2, and he is 3-0 with a 0.97 GAA and .963 SV% in 3 postseason starts with the Canes so far.
After Schmid started the first 2 games, it is widely expected that coach Lindy Ruff turns back to 33-game winner Vanecek. While he allowed 2 goals on 10 shots in the 3rd period of Game 2, he has appeared in relief in each of the 1st 2 games after Schmid was pulled. Ruff needs to make adjustments, and the biggest one is in the blue paint.
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Hurricanes at Devils picks and predictions
Prediction
Hurricanes 4, Devils 3
Moneyline
The HURRICANES (+115) are worth playing on the road, which has a funny ring to it if you remember last season’s playoffs.
Carolina was winless in 6 postseason road games last season, and it lost the 1st try in Game 3 of the New York Islanders series. But this team won the final 2 on Long Island, including the closeout Game 6 contest in overtime.
The Devils (-135) have zero momentum right now, and the play is Carolina until further notice.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Hurricanes +1.5 (-250) will set you back 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s just not a recommended betting strategy for the long haul. Play Carolina straight up for a much better value in what should be the closest game of the series.
PASS.
Over/Under
The OVER 5.5 (+105) is the lean, especially at plus-money.
Carolina has averaged 5.5 goals per game (GPG) itself in the first 2 outings, while New Jersey has contributed just the 2 total goals. You have to expect the Devils offense will finally have a watershed moment at some point, or at least will be respectable. Scoring just a single goal per game won’t cut it, and Jersey should be inspired by its raucous home crowd in Game 3.
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