The Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes play Game 5 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series Tuesday. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at PNC Arena. Below, we analyze the Predators-Hurricanes Game 5 odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Predators won a pair of double-overtime games in Nashville over the weekend to scratch and claw their way back to tie the series 2-2. They lost the first two games in Raleigh by a combined score of 8-2.
The Hurricanes were outscored 9-7 in Nashville in the pair of double-overtime losses, and what went from a 2-0 series lead has turned into a best-of-three. The Hurricanes still get two of those games in front of their raucous home crowd at PNC Arena, but the margin of error is gone.
Predators at Hurricanes: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:45 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 (-170) | Hurricanes -1.5 (+140)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: +110 | U: -135)
Predators at Hurricanes: Projected starting goalies
Juuse Saros (21-11-1, 2.28 GAA, .927 SV%, 3 SO) vs. Alex Nedeljkovic (15-5-3, 1.90 GAA, .932 SV%, 3 SO)
Saros was dinged for 4 goals in Game 1 but allowed just 2 goals in a 3-0 loss in Game 2 in Raleigh. He can play in front of this loud crowd, and use the energy in a positive way. He also has the past two wins, both in double-overtime, to spur him on.
Nedeljkovic lost both Games 3 and 4 in double-overtime, allowing 7 total goals in Nashville. While that’s not exactly standing on your head, he did make some miraculous saves, too, and there is no reason to change course at this juncture.
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Predators at Hurricanes: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Hurricanes 3, Predators 2
Money line (ML)
The HURRICANES (-190) are heavy favorites on home ice. It’s a little over my personal limit of -180 on money line plays; however, I strongly believe they’ll feed off the intense energy in their return to Raleigh in Game 5 and grab back the series lead in front of their home crowd after a couple of near-misses in Music City.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The PREDATORS +1.5 (-170) are worth playing at this price based upon the past two games. Saros was up to the task in the past two games, and the offense has found ways to solve Nedeljkovic.
Even if the Preds lose, which I expect, I am looking for another one-goal game.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 5.5 (-135) is the play after a couple of high-scoring affairs in Smashville. The young Hurricanes have plenty of postseason experience to tap into from the past two years, but they will still have some nerves.
They’ll be hesitant to take chances which could lead to odd-man rushes the other way. The Predators will have more difficulty finding the back of the net than they did on home ice over the weekend.
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