Welcome back to Last Word on Hockey as this NHL Predictions features two teams heading in opposite directions. The Carolina Hurricanes eye a season sweep of the New York Rangers this Saturday, April 12th. In this Metropolitan Division matchup, the Rangers cling to very faint playoff hopes. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes look to tighten their grip on a top seed in the East. Carolina has already won the first three games of the season series, including a dominant 4-0 shutout at Madison Square Garden, and now has a chance to complete the sweep at PNC Arena. With emotions running high, this final regular season meeting promises to deliver intensity.
NHL Predictions
New York Rangers vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Time: 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: ABC, ESPN+
A Potential Carolina Sweep
This Metropolitan Division showdown features two teams on drastically different trajectories. The Carolina Hurricanes have already taken the first three games in the season series and now have a golden opportunity to sweep New York with a win at home. The Rangers, currently 37-35-7, are six points behind the final Eastern Conference wild card spot with only a three games remaining. A loss in this game would effectively end their post-season aspirations. Conversely, the Hurricanes have secured the No. 2 seed in the Metropolitan Division, with a 46-27-5 record, and are looking to maintain momentum heading into the playoffs. The Rangers need a full team effort to pull off the upset. Tonight’s game will be fueled by desperation and playoff focus.
The Hurricanes Playing Spoiler
The Carolina Hurricanes (46–27–5) have clinched the No. 2 seed in the Metropolitan Division. Despite a recent 5–4 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals, the Hurricanes are focused on maintaining momentum heading into the playoffs. Sebastian Aho leads the team with 28 goals and 43 assists, while Seth Jarvis has added 31 goals and 32 assists. Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov has a record of 26–15–3 with a 2.58 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. Carolina has the league’s top penalty kill and ranks eighth in goals against. With their strong defensive play and depth in scoring, the Hurricanes are expected to make a deep playoff run.
Make or Break for New York
New York enters this matchup feeling the pressure to perform in a must-win scenario. The New York Rangers (37–35–7) are six points behind the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with only three games remaining. Their postseason chances are slim, but a recent 9–2 victory over the New York Islanders has provided a glimmer of hope. Artemi Panarin leads the team with 37 goals and 50 assists, while defenceman Adam Fox has contributed nine goals and 51 assists. However, the Rangers have struggled on the power play, ranking just 27th in the league. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin holds a record of 26–28–5 with a 2.87 GAA and a .905 SV%. The Rangers ability to maintain offensive pressure and tighten up defensively will be needed, but it may be too little, too late.
NHL Predictions
New York is the underdog, +164 on the moneyline, while Carolina is a -200 favorite at home. Given the Hurricanes dominance in the season series and their strong home record, they are favoured to win. However, the Rangers recent offensive surge suggests they could keep the game close.
Prediction: Hurricanes win 5-4
The over/under for the game is set at 5.5 goals, with the over priced at -132 and the under priced at +108. The Rangers have averaged 3.0 goals per game on the road against the Hurricanes. However, Carolina also averages 3.0 goals per game at home. Given both teams’ offensive capabilities and the stakes involved, the over could be a strong consideration.
Main Photo Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
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