Hurricanes vs Rangers Odds Game 6: Can Carolina Win on the Road?

With the Carolina Hurricanes winning Game 5, the series returns to New York where the Hurricanes vs Rangers odds have it as a toss-up. Carolina has never won on the road in these playoffs and the Rangers are undefeated in elimination games. But there is a first time for everything as Carolina’s desire to progress clashes against New York’s will to survive.

Hurricanes vs Rangers Game Info

• Game: Carolina Hurricanes (54-20-8) vs New York Rangers (52-24-6)
• Location: Madison Square Garden
• Day/Time: Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ET
• Television: TBD

Hurricanes Continue Jekyll and Hyde Act

It isn’t just a home-ice advantage for the Carolina Hurricanes. It’s also a “road ice disadvantage.” The Raleigh-based hockey team has performed superbly at home and is unbeaten (7-0) but the team become a shell of itself on the road and is winless (0-5). Just look at the Carolina Hurricanes updates and stats so far.

At home, Carolina is +17 in goal differential, has 11.9 shooting percent, and has their penalty-kill (PK) at 89.5 percent. On the road, Carolina has a -13 goal differential, 5.2 shooting percent, and a 69.6 percent on the PK. But their scoring chance differential is relatively similar, both at over +30.

The biggest stat in that mix is Carolina’s inability to convert scoring chances to goals when on the road. Part of it has to do with facing Igor Shesterkin and part of it is an impotent power-play. The Canes have scored on just one of their 16 PPs – none in this series (0-for-5). If Carolina continues to be snakebitten here, it would be tough betting online on this team.

Rangers Again in Elimination Game Territory

While the Hurricanes struggle on the road, the New York Rangers have played their best hockey in elimination games. New York won three straight games against the Penguins after falling behind 3-1 in their Round 1 series. The Rangers outscored the Pens by five despite getting outshot. Igor Shesterkin bounced back from his pair of nightmares in Pittsburgh and saved 99 of the 108 shots he faced. To date, he leads the playoffs in saves.

But the Blueshirts have been too dependent on the Vezina Trophy favorite. The team finds itself constantly outshot and outchanced and in terms of scoring metrics, the Rangers are on the average side. One bad game from Shesterkin and the Rangers are packing their bags.

It’s been a great run thus far but Shesterkin can only carry New York so far. Carolina is cold on the road but New York can’t slip up and will need to play as efficiently as it can or this NHL betting preview may be the last for this series.

Home Sweet Home?

Down 3-2 in the series, the New York Rangers are penciled in at over 3-1 odds to win the next two games and the series. Road teams that lose Game 5 go on to lose the series almost 80 percent of the time based on the past playoffs and the Hurricanes vs Rangers odds.

The New York Rangers may not win two straight games against the Carolina Hurricanes, but at a pick’em price, they sound like a solid bet to win at home. This is the shortest line the sportsbook has given Carolina on the road since Game 4 against the Bruins. They lost that game 5-2.

But with their backs on the wall, the Rangers should be more driven and fight Carolina off of possession more than they usually do. New York has an edge in scoring chance conversions and that’s what they need to survive here.

Hurricanes vs Rangers Betting Trends

The total, lined at 5½, has gone under in all five games of this series. A step further… the total has gone under in seven of the last 10 games between the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes.

The puck line has cashed on the Hurricanes vs Rangers odds for four of the five games of this series. Each winner has won by at least two goals from Game 2 onward.

Carolina has won just four games in its last 20 games in New York. The Rangers are 13-4-2 at home against the Metropolitan Division this season.

Igor Shesterkin has a save percentage (SV%) at 94.9 for the series. The Rangers are 3-1-1 in the playoffs when he has a SV% equal to or greater than this during a game.