Carolina Hurricanes at New Jersey Devils odds, picks and predictions

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The Carolina Hurricanes (21-12-1) meet the New Jersey Devils (23-11-3) Friday at Prudential Center in the front end of a home-and-home set. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Hurricanes vs. Devils odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Season series: Tied 1-1; Devils won most recent meeting Nov. 21 in Newark, 4-2 as a slight favorite as total pushed. Home team has won both meetings 4-2 this season

The favorite has cashed in each of the past 6 meetings in this series, with the Under going 4-0-2 in the span since May 11, 2023.

Carolina was tripped up 5-2 at the Nashville Predators prior to the holiday break, and it is just 1-5-1 in the previous 7 outings, including the 4-2 loss in New Jersey Nov. 21.

New Jersey posted consecutive shutouts by G Jacob Markstrom prior to the Christmas break, outscoring the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers by an 8-0 margin. The Under is on a 10-0 run for the Devils, with Markstrom allowing 1 or no goals in each of his past 5 assignments.

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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 of NHL odds. Lines last updated at 1:05 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Hurricanes +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Devils -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Hurricanes +1.5 (-250) | Devils -1.5 (+200)
Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)

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Hurricanes at Devils projected goalies

Pyotr Kochetkov (14-6-0, 2.43 GAA, .903% SV, 1 SO) vs. Jacob Markstrom (18-6-2, 2.12 GAA, .912 SV%, 3 SO)

Kochetkov kicked aside 22 of the 23 shots he faced in a 3-1 win against the Rangers Sunday. He has alternated wins and losses in his 8 December starts, going 4-4-0 with a 2.45 GAA and .902 SV% with his only shutout of the season Dec. 17 against the New York Islanders.

Markstrom has back-to-back shutouts, and is working on a scoreless streak of 129:00 since Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues beat him in the third period of a game Dec. 17 at Enterprise Center. Markstrom is a ridiculous 7-0-1 with a 1.00 GAA and .947 SV% with 2 SO in December.

Hurricanes at Devils picks and predictions

Prediction

Devils 3, Hurricanes 2

Moneyline

The DEVILS (-125) are a strong play behind Markstrom, especially since the Hurricanes (+105) have been rather erratic on the road lately.

On the flip side, New Jersey has won 4 in a row at home since going 0-1-1 with just 1 goal scored in a 2-game span Dec. 8-10 against the Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs.

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Puck line/Against the spread

The Hurricanes +1.5 (-250) will cost you 2 1/2 times your potential return, which is quite a bit of risk for not nearly enough reward. If you like Carolina, and feel it will be able to solve the red-hot Markstrom, just bet the Canes straight up.

PASS.

Over/Under

UNDER 6 (-120) is a strong play with the way Markstrom has been cooking right along. Again, he has 1.00 GAA in 8 December starts, and he has allowed 1 or no goals in each of his previous 5 assignments.

The Hurricanes know a thing or two about the Under, too, going 6-1 in the past 7 outings.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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