The Carolina Hurricanes (7-4-0) and New York Rangers (6-5-2) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. EST at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. The game will be broadcast live on TNT.
The Hurricanes are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 5.5 (-125o / +105u). The Hurricanes are a -115 favorite to win outright, while the Rangers are -105 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Hurricanes vs. Rangers predictions and NHL picks.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers Odds, Over/Under, Puck Line
| Hurricanes Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +210 | 5.5 -120o / 100u | -115 |
| Rangers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -275 | 5.5 -120o / 100u | -105 |
- Hurricanes vs. Rangers Spread: Hurricanes -1.5 (+210), Rangers +1.5 (-275)
- Hurricanes vs. Rangers Over/Under: 5.5 (-120o / +100u)
- Hurricanes vs. Rangers Moneyline: Hurricanes -115, Rangers -105
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers Preview
Carolina Hurricanes
After starting the season 5-0, the Hurricanes have been a beacon of mediocrity.
It’s not something I was expecting, but then again, every team has its ups and downs, so you might as well get the hardships out of the way early.
I’ve always seen this team as one of the more deadly groups in the NHL, but it's the goaltending that I’ve felt has always held them back.
Freddie Andersen and Brandon Bussi have essentially split the starts, but since Andersen started in the recent 2-1 loss to Boston (and his durability issues), I believe Bussi sees the crease here.
The 27-year-old rookie has such a nice story built on sheer perseverance. After five years in the minors, Bussi is playing to a .916 SV% and a 3.6 GSAx.
Do I think he’s the answer for the Canes? It’s too early to tell, and history isn’t exactly on goalies with his age and experience. But in the meantime, enjoy the ride the Bussi is taking you on.
New York Rangers
The Rangers enjoyed a nice west coast trip where they went 3-1, including a solid 3-2 overtime win in Seattle against the Kraken.
It was an encouraging sign for a team that looked lifeless in the first three weeks of the season.
But I still have my doubts about this team moving forward, and it’s for the sole fact of who’s wearing the ‘C’ on his jersey – J.T. Miller.
The concern is more about vibes rather than numbers. Miller is a really good player who can score 80 points in a season, but he’s not for everyone – as we all saw during his time in Vancouver.
Numbers-wise, this is a solid team though, as the Rangers rank in the top-three in expected goals and are first in xGA/60.
Goaltender Igor Shesterkin has played fine for the most part, but he definitely wasn’t the reason why the Rangers won on Saturday. He let up two goals only on thirteen shots faced.
Perhaps it was just an outlier, because I think he and his .914 SV% and 3.4 GSAx will be just fine moving forward.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers Prediction
The Rangers still haven’t won at home, which is truly insane, but nothing like a little road trip to bring on some home cooking?
I previously thought the Rangers were going to win at home on October 20th against the Wild, but it’s clear I was premature in my analysis.
This team looks a lot better, and while I have my long-term doubts about this team making significant playoff damage in the spring, they’re certainly good enough to win here.
Because of New York’s lousy home record, it’s currently sitting as +105 underdogs, which I can’t justify not taking. Carolina has lost three out of its last four road games, so I think we have a play here for the Rangers.
If they can’t finally win, I’ll give up picking them at home until they finally win. Eventually, the shoe has to drop.
Pick: Rangers Moneyline (+105)
