Carolina Hurricanes at New York Rangers odds, picks and predictions
The Carolina Hurricanes (6-4-0) travel to meet the New York Rangers (7-2-0) Thursday at Madison Square Garden. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Hurricanes vs. Rangers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Hurricanes limped to the finish line of a 6-game road trip from Oct. 14-24, losing the final 3 contests by a 16-8 margin. Once Carolina returned home, it got well, winning back-to-back games at PNC Arena against the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks, before registering a 3-2 comeback win over the Philadelphia Flyers on the road Monday.
The Rangers are in the midst of a 5-game win streak, and all of those victories came in a West Coast road trip. That includes consecutive OT wins in Vancouver and Winnipeg to wrap up the journey.
At MSG, New York has split a pair of appearances this season, including the last most recent showing in front of the home fans in a 4-1 loss on Oct. 19 against the Nashville Predators.
For totals, the Under is 6-1 in the past 7 games overall, and 7 of the past 9 outings overall this season. The Blueshirts have cashed the Under in their only 2 home games to date, too.
After a 6-0 Over run to open the season for the Hurricanes, the total has gone low in each of the past 4 outings. Carolina is averaging just 2.3 goals per game (GPG) while allowing just 1.8 GPG in the 4-game span.
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Hurricanes at Rangers odds
FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:58 a.m. ET.
Hurricanes at Rangers projected goalies
Frederik Andersen (4-0-0, 3.06 GAA, .888 SV%) vs. Igor Shesterkin (5-2-0, 2.56 GAA, .905 SV%)
Andersen returned to the lineup last Thursday in a 3-2 OT win against the Kraken, and he was in the crease last time out on Monday in Philadelphia, kicking aside 26 of the 28 shots he faced. He missed over a week after being hit in the face by a puck in San Jose on Oct. 17.
The Great Dane went 1-2-0 with a 3.05 GAA and .862 SV% in 3 assignments against the Rangers in 2022-23.
Shesterkin was the starter for the final 2 games with wins in Winnipeg and Vancouver, while rattling off 3 straight victories. He has allowed 3 or fewer goals in 5 of the past 7 contests.
He was 2-1-0 with a 2.37 GAA and .924 SV% in 3 starts against the Hurricanes last season.
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Hurricanes at Rangers picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 3, Hurricanes 1
The RANGERS (-114) are a good play on home ice against the Hurricanes (-105).
Carolina has won twice in the past 8 games dating back to last season against teams with a winning overall record. Madison Square Garden has been a house of horrors over the years, with Carolina going 5-22 in the past 27 skates at MSG. The Hurricanes have won just 16 times in the past 55 meetings overall in this series, too.
The RANGERS -1.5 (+215) are worth a roll of the dice for the chance to double up your initial wager.
New York failed to cover the puck line as a favorite in the final 2 games of the road trip. However, it covered 3 of 5 games on the road trip as a favorite, but there is risk, with the Rangers going 4-5 in 9 games as a favorite on the puck line this season.
Despite the so-so results for the Rangers on the puck line, they’re the play since the Hurricanes have struggled so much in New York City.
UNDER 5.5 (-106) is the lean.
The total has cashed in each of the past 4 outings for the Canes, as suddenly they cannot score any goals, yet the defense and goaltending has also improved dramatically. That’s been a perfect recipe for Under bettors.
The Rangers have cashed in 6 of the past 7 games overall, allowing just 1.4 GPG in the past 5 outings, too.
While the Over-Under split in 4 meetings last season, the total went low in the past 2 in the series, with the edge going to the Under in 6 of the past 10 meetings.
