The New Jersey Devils (27-44-9) travel to meet the Carolina Hurricanes (53-20-8) at PNC Arena in Raleigh Thursday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we look at the Devils vs. Hurricanes odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
The Devils, long since eliminated from the playoffs, have dropped four straight games, and six of the previous seven outings. That includes a 3-2 overtime loss in Newark on April 23.
The Hurricanes wrapped up the Metropolitan Division title with a victory against the New York Rangers last time out. Carolina has won five straight games, including three in a row with rookie goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov filling in for injured veterans Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta.
Devils at Hurricanes odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:45 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Devils +260 (bet $100 to win $260) | Hurricanes -340 (bet $340 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Devils +1.5 (+105) | Hurricanes -1.5 (-130)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -125 | U: +100)
Devils at Hurricanes projected goalies
Andrew Hammond (4-4-1, 3.56 GAA, .887 SV%) vs. Pyotr Kochetkov (3-0-0, 2.42 GAA, .902 SV%)
The journeyman was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens a few weeks ago. He has won just one of his six starts, allowing five or more goals in three of those outings.
The rookie Kochetkov has done an admirable job filling in for the injured Andersen and Raanta. Who would have projected Kochetkov to be the winning backstop on the night the team clinched the division title?
This will be his first home start after winning the first two road starts and three outings overall, including a 3-2 overtime victory in New Jersey last Saturday.
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Devils at Hurricanes odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Hurricanes 3, Devils 2
Money line
The Hurricanes (-340) will cost you nearly three-and-a-half times your potential return. That’s risky enough, but it remains to be seen how motivated Carolina will be after having wrapped up the Metropolitan Division title last time out. This game is essentially meaningless in terms of seeding, and the Canes are just trying to get through it healthy.
AVOID.
Against the spread
The DEVILS +1.5 (-105) are worth a roll of the dice on the puck line. They’re playing poorly lately, and have a backstop in between the pipes who has done very little. And the home team is 9-2 in the past 11 meetings, with New Jersey 1-5 in the past six trips to Raleigh. Still, how motivated will the Hurricanes -1.5 (-130) be here?
UNDER 6.5 (+100) is the way to go.
Yes, the Over has dominated for Jersey lately, especially on the road. However, the Under is 5-0 in the past five against winning teams, and 5-2 in the past seven for the Devs as an underdog.
In this series the Under is 17-6-4 in the past 27 meetings, including 7-2-2 in the past 11 in North Carolina.
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