Devils vs. Hurricanes NHL Eastern Conference playoffs Game 1 odds: Carolina not revealing whether Frederik Andersen or Antti Raanta will start in goal
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Metropolitan Division champion Carolina Hurricanes and second-place New Jersey Devils is tonight from Raleigh, N.C., and Canes coach Rod Brind'Amour surely knows whether he's starting Frederik Andersen or Antti Raanta in net, but apparently the public won't be made aware until the teams take the ice pregame. Carolina is -120 at Caesars Sportsbook.
Carolina rather unusually didn't hold an official morning skate today in advance of Game 1 – there were some extras skating but both Andersen and Raanta were present. Usually, that's the first clue on who starts in net, but Brind'Amour said he won't announce his starter.
In the Hurricanes' six-game first-round win over the Islanders, Raanta started the first five games and was 3-2 with a 2.59 goals-against average and .906 save percentage. Good numbers indeed, yet Andersen got the call in Game 6 and stopped 33 shots in the clinching 2-1 victory while playing for the first time since April 13.
During the regular season, Raanta was 19-3-3 with a 2.23 GAA and .910 SV, while Andersen 21-11-1 with a 2.48 GAA and .903 SV, so the numbers speak for themselves. Yet it sounds as if Andersen will be the starter tonight, even though Raanta has been great at PNC Arena, going 8-1 with a 1.53 GAA and .943 save percentage in 11 games over the past two postseasons. He is 1-6 with a 3.66 GAA and .884 save percentage on the road in that span.
Carolina was 3-1 vs. New Jersey during the regular season. Andersen was 2-1-0 with a 2.67 GAA and .905, and Raanta didn't face the Devils.
Rookie Akira Schmid will get the start for New Jersey. He took over for Vitek Vanecek after the Devils lost the first two games of Round 1 to the Rangers and went 4-1 with a 1.38 GAA., .951 save percentage and two shutouts. The 22-year-old became the fifth rookie goalie in NHL history with a Game 7 shutout. Schmid didn't face the Hurricanes during the regular season.
New Jersey has one major injury concern. Timo Meier, the big trade deadline acquisition from San Jose, is a game-time call with an undisclosed injury. Meier had 40 goals and 66 points in 78 regular-season outings combined with the Sharks and Devils but didn't have a point and was minus-3 in Round 1.
Despite not holding home-ice advantage, the Devils are -120 series favorites. The Hurricanes are +100.
