New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes Odds

The New York Rangers (41-20-10) will look to even the score and complete a home-and-home series with the Metropolitan Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes (46-15-8) by taking the regular-season series as well as small road underdogs on Thursday.

The Hurricanes lead the Rangers by eight points in the Metro and took the last meeting 3-2 as +100 road underdogs on Tuesday, with Teuvo Teravainen scoring the game-winning goal with 2:33 remaining in the third period. New York had won the previous two meetings earlier this season by a combined score of 11-5, including 6-2 in the last one at Carolina.

Latest Betting Notes: Rangers

With just 11 games left in the regular season, New York has virtually no chance to steal the division title away from its opponent here at this point. However, winning the season series would give the Rangers plenty of confidence going into the playoffs, especially if they meet again in the second round of the postseason.

These are two teams with realistic goals of winning the Stanley Cup this year, and New York has proven that it can compete with the elite contenders in the NHL. The problem is, the Rangers have struggled against divisional opponents, going 11-8-2 compared to 18-5-1 for the Hurricanes and 14-5-2 for the New Jersey Devils, who are six points ahead of them and their likely first-round foe.

Latest Betting Notes: Hurricanes

Carolina has won three of five games since losing third-leading scorer Andrei Svechnikov (23 goals and 32 assists for 55 points) to a torn ACL. Without Svechnikov, the Hurricanes are obviously missing one of their best offensive players, one who cannot really be replaced since the trade deadline has already passed.

That means others like Teravainen and Jesperi Kotkaniemi must step up to help fill that void. Recently acquired winger Jesse Puljujarvi has yet to tally a point in six games since coming over in a trade from the Edmonton Oilers, and it would be nice if he could finally add his name to the scoresheet as well.

Regardless, this is a team that still wants to build some momentum heading into the playoffs, splitting its last six games after winning nine of the previous 11 and 18 of 22.

The Keys to Victory: Rangers

New York plays five of its next six games on the road, where the team has gone 20-8-6 this season. This is a huge matchup for the Rangers, who have seen goaltender Igor Shesterkin (32-12-7, 2.58 goals-against average, .913 save percentage) slip a bit coming off his Vezina Trophy-winning campaign. After failing to give up a goal in five straight periods, he allowed three in the third of the last meeting with Carolina to end a personal five-game winning streak. While it is safe to say he may be the biggest key if he gets the nod again, backup Jaroslav Halak is coming off his first shutout of the year too.

The Keys to Victory: Hurricanes

Carolina leads New Jersey by only two points for the division lead with two games in hand and does not want to risk falling out of first. With 13 games remaining, the Hurricanes open their toughest homestand of the year in this spot, with the three best teams in the Atlantic Division visiting next in the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning. This game is the most important of the four-game homestand as a key divisional matchup, and as mentioned earlier, they have thrived against Metro opponents.