The Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils continue their best-of-7 Eastern Conference semifinals series Tuesday in Game 4. Carolina leads 2-1. Puck drop from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Hurricanes vs. Devils odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Hurricanes saw their modest 3-game win streak, and 2-game road win streak, come to a crashing halt in Game 3 in Newark. Carolina was on the short end of an 8-4 shellacking, although the team did tie an NHL record with 3 shorthanded goals. They’re the 1st team to accomplish the feat since 1983.
Despite the loss, the Canes are still 20-9 in the past 29 games in the conference semifinals round.
After getting outscored 11-2 in the 1st 2 games of the series in Raleigh, the Devils tied a season best with 8 goals. New Jersey also lit the lamp 8 times in a victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 6 in Newark.
The Devils have won 8 of the last 10 games at home, and they’re 5-2 across the previous 7 tries in the conference semifinals round.
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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 at 7:20 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Hurricanes +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Devils -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Hurricanes +1.5 (-210) | Devils -1.5 (+170)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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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 punished in Game 3, coughing up 4 goals on just 12 shots. He was pulled early in the 2nd period, and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov made his 1st appearance of the postseason in relief. The latter made 18 saves on 22 shots. It isn’t expected coach Rod Brind’Amour will be making a goaltender change for Game 4.
Vanecek was back in the crease for the Devils in Game 3 after rookie Akira Schmid started the first 2 games in Raleigh. Vanecek kicked aside 26 of the 30 shots he faced, including the 3 shorthanded goals.
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Hurricanes at Devils picks and predictions
Prediction
Hurricanes 4, Devils 3
Moneyline
The HURRICANES (+125) are a decent play as short ‘dogs. Carolina was 0-6 last season on the road in the postseason, but proved it can win away from home with 2 victories in the 1st round, including the series clincher in Game 6.
While the Devils (-155) cashed at home, the power play was still abysmal, including allowing the 3 shorties. That simply cannot happen.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Hurricanes +1.5 (-210) will cost you more than twice your potential return, and that’s just too much risk for not enough reward if you require insurance.
As an underdog, Carolina is 3-1 in the last 4 games on the puck line as an underdog, including 3 outright victories.
PASS.
Over/Under
The OVER 5.5 (-105) is worth a look in Game 4.
I mean, we saw 12 goals tallied in Game 3, and the Over is 6-1-1 in the last 8 playoff games for the Hurricanes. Carolina is averaging 5.0 PPG in the last 3 outings in this series.
The Over is also 4-1 in the last 5 games overall for the Devils, while cashing at a 5-2 clip in the previous 7 contests at home.
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