The Carolina Hurricanes (2-0-0) and Ottawa Senators (0-1-1) meet in Game 3 of the NHL Playoffs tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. EDT at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON. The game will be broadcast live on TBS.
The Senators are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 5.5 (-127o / +105u). The Senators are a -125 favorite to win outright, while the Hurricanes are +104 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Hurricanes vs. Senators predictions and NHL picks.
Hurricanes vs. Senators Odds, Pick
| Hurricanes Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -250 | 5.5 -127o / +105u | +104 |
| Senators Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +201 | 5.5 -127o / +105u | -125 |
- Hurricanes vs. Senators Spread: Senators -1.5 (+201 ), Hurricanes +1.5 (-250)
- Hurricanes vs. Senators Over/Under: 5.5 (-127o / +105u)
- Hurricanes vs. Senators Moneyline: Hurricanes +104, Senators -125
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Hurricanes vs. Senators Preview
Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina came into these playoffs red hot, and the Canes haven’t let up.
They expectedly handled the Senators 2-0 in Game 1, and then went down to the wire in Game 2 in a double overtime thriller.
In the first two games of all the playoffs, Carolina has been the most dominant 5-on-5 team on offense. It’s ranking first in expected goals with a 7.18 xGF%, though are second-worst on the defensive, as the Senators are right behind the Hurricanes on the offensive end.
A lot of the offensive success has come from their top-6, with the lines featuring Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, Jackson Blake and Jordan Martinook, Jordan Staal, Nikolaj Ehlers are two of the top-3 lines in these playoffs thus far.
Special teams have also been critical in this series. The Senators had one of the better power plays all of the regular season, and Carolina stuffed them in all seven of their opportunities.
I still worry about goaltending, though.
It’s clear that Rod Brind’Amour is riding with Freddie Andersen and that’s OK due to his experience, but he’s a bit of a wild card. You don’t know what you’re going to get out of him, as this season, he played to an .874 SV% and a 3.9 GSAx.
Ottawa Senators
If there was ever a team that needed a two-day break, it was probably the Senators.
After the disappointment on Monday, Ottawa will look to come within striking distance against the best team in the East.
I’ve always wondered about the Senators, because over the season, it was one of the better 5-on-5 teams in the league, but they were brought down by poor goaltending.
Well, Linus Ullmark hasn’t been bad at all, like he was this season. In fact, he’s one of the better-performing netminders in all of the playoffs with a 4.6 GSAx.
If the Sens have any chance at beating the Hurricanes, they’ll need more from their top line in Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson and captain Brady Tkachuk. Tkachuk is the type of player who thrives on playoff hockey by being a total deterrent with his physicality.
But at the moment, it seems like the line of Michael Amadio, Shane Pinto, and Warren Foegele has been Ottawa’s best line at 5-on-5 with a 4.39 expected goals per 60 minutes.
Hurricanes vs. Senators Prediction
This whole series has been down to the wire.
And given how well the goaltenders have performed, I'm expecting more tight-checking hockey. The playoffs are usually where offense goes to die, unless you're a team with a high offensive ceiling.
And while both of these squads have plenty of talent up front, they thrive more in a tight-checking environment.
Under 5.5 goals is at plus-money and I understand why the books are hesitant to favor it.
Five and a half goals isn't a lot when you think about it, and both of these teams averaged a combined seven goals over the regular season.
However, this series has played at the mercy of the goaltenders, and with two days' rest, I anticipate another takeover in the crease.
Pick: Under 5.5 (+106)
