Hurricanes vs Rangers Betting Preview
Stakes High in Huge Metropolitan Division Matchup
Hurricanes Can Clinch Division Title
The other three division titles have long since been decided so that leaves the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers to battle it out for the Metropolitan Division championship.
A win in Tuesday’s showdown between the top two teams in the division would wrap up the division title for Carolina, but a victory by the Rangers would make things pretty interesting.
If New York wins in regulation, that would leave the Rangers two points out of first place. The Rangers have a game in hand, so there’s obviously plenty on the line as we delve into the Hurricanes vs Rangers betting preview.
The Rangers have the third-best point percentage among Eastern Conference teams since the start of March. The Rangers and Hurricanes are first and third in the NHL in goals-against average since March 1.
Carolina has Health Concerns
There are very teams that have been as fortunate when it comes to the health of their top forwards as the Carolina Hurricanes.
Eight forwards have played in at least 73 games. Jesper Fast and defenseman Brady Skjei as the only NHL players to appear in all 80 games for the Hurricanes.
With the playoffs quickly approaching, there are some concerns about Vincent Trocheck and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. When Trocheck was scratched from Sunday’s game, it was viewed as a maintenance day. It was his first time out of the lineup this season. He is being listed as day-to-day, leading to speculation that could be something bigger than that.
Kotkaniemi has played in just two games in the month of April and he is also considered to be day-to-day. If they can’t go, that could impact the Hurricanes vs Rangers betting preview.
The goaltending situation is also concerning. Frederik Andersen is expected to be out until early May due to a lower-body injury and Antti Raanta left the last game with a lower-body injury. The good news is Raanta could be available to play.
Trio of Rangers Forwards Game-Time Decisions
Few teams in the NHL have exceeded expectations more this season than the New York Rangers.
With pretty much the same squad that missed the playoffs three times in the previous four seasons, the hope for 2021-22 is that the young players could mature enough to give New York a chance to compete for a playoff spot.
Heading into the final three games of the season, the Rangers still have a chance at the franchise’s third division title in the last 26 seasons. However, New York could a bit shorthanded up front heading into its biggest home game of the season.
Andrew Copp, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko are all considered to be game-time decisions for the game. All three players missed the last game against Boston.
While Kakko is a former No. 2 overall pick and Chytil is also a former first-round selection, the absence of Copp could be felt the most. Few players acquired at the NHL trade deadline have impacted their new team as much as Copp. Copp has eight goals and 10 assists in the 15 games he played with the Rangers since being traded by the Winnipeg Jets.
After losing to New Jersey in Copp’s first game with the Rangers, New York is 10-0-1 when Copp has at least one point, as he could be a key factor in the Hurricanes vs Rangers betting preview if he returns to the ice on Tuesday.
Hurricanes vs Rangers Betting Guide
The Rangers have allowed a goal or less in four of their last five home games. The lone exception came when Carolina won 4-2 at Madison Square Garden on April 12.
With the way these teams get after it defensively, the Carolina Hurricanes vs New York Rangers predictions have the game going under the 5½-goal total.
Carolina has won five of the last NHL matchups with the Rangers and only one of those games featured more than six combined goals.
The Rangers have won 17 of the last 20 games when hosting the Hurricanes
New York had won 16 straight home games against Carolina from 2011-19. The Hurricanes have won three of the last five matchups at New York.
When playing at home, the Rangers have won the last seven one-goal games in the series, so keep that in mind if it comes down to the wire.
The Hurricanes vs Rangers odds have a moneyline of -120 for New York while the Hurricanes are currently at even money to pick up the two points.
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