The Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes play Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series Monday. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at PNC Arena. Below, we analyze the Predators-Hurricanes odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Predators picked up a pair of victories to close out the regular season against the Hurricanes, and they’ll try to use that as a springboard into this series despite some rather long odds.
The Hurricanes won the first six regular-season meetings against the Predators, including all four meetings at PNC Arena. Overall, Carolina posted a 20-3-5 record in Raleigh, N.C., in the regular season.
Predators at Hurricanes: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:19 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Predators +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Hurricanes -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Predators +1.5 (-165) | Hurricanes -1.5 (+140)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: +120 | U: -145)
Predators at Hurricanes: Projected starting goalies
Juuse Saros (21-11-1, 2.28 GAA, .927 SV%, 3 SO) vs. Petr Mrazek (6-2-3, 2.06 GAA, .923 SV%, 3 SO)
Saros allowed just one goal on 22 shots in his final regular-season start and win against the Hurricanes May 8. He was 1-2-0 with a 2.73 GAA and .917 SV% in three starts and four appearances vs. Carolina this season.
Mrazek had mixed results in his two starts against the Predators this season. He allowed just one goal on 20 shots in a win in Raleigh April 15, and he was blasted for five goals on 27 shots in a 5-0 loss at Nashville May 10.
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Predators at Hurricanes: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Hurricanes 3, Predators 2
Money line (ML)
The HURRICANES (-190) are slightly above my personal money line limit of -180, but sometimes you have to break your own rules.
Carolina won six of the eight regular-season meetings, including each of the four at PNC Arena. The Hurricanes outscored the Predators 15-5 in the four games in Raleigh, including 12-3 across the past three battles.
The Hurricanes will also be spurred on by at least 10,000 spectators at PNC as North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper relaxed COVID-19 indoor congregation restrictions in the past few days, just in time for the playoffs.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The PREDATORS +1.5 (-165) is worth a roll of the dice, catching a goal and a half on the road. Yes, they have struggled in four trips to Raleigh during the regular season, but they have to be confident following their two-game sweep in Nashville to close out the regular season. They should be able to keep it close in a lower-scoring game.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 5.5 (-145) is an attractive play as Saros and Mrazek should put on a show. The Under was 5-1-2 in the eight regular-season head-to-head meetings, including 3-0-1 in the four games in Raleigh. Look for more of the same in the series opener.
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