Rangers vs. Hurricanes Odds
| Rangers Odds | +175 |
| Hurricanes Odds | -205 |
| Over/Under | 5.5 (-115 / -105) |
| Time | 6 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
We have a Metropolitan Division tilt as the third-place New York Rangers travel to Carolina to face the first-place Hurricanes. This is the second meeting between these two teams this season as the Hurricanes won the first matchup 6-3 at home.
Can the Hurricanes repeat their dominant home performance, or will the Rangers have an answer for the Metro's first-place team?
No Shesterkin Will Be An Issue
The New York Rangers enter this game on the second half of a road back-to-back following Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Since Igor Shesterkin got the start against the Lightning, we should expect to see Alexandar Georgiev start between the pipes for the Rangers in this matchup.
Georgiev is in a fade-worth spot as the Rangers' entire success has rested on the shoulders of Vezina-favorite Igor Shesterkin. Without Shesterkin between the pipes, the Rangers are a completely different team.
Over Georgiev's last seven road starts, the Rangers are just 1-6 with all six of those losses coming by two or more goals. Over that same span, Georgiev boasts a poor 0.864 save percentage.
It comes as no surprise that the Rangers get shelled whenever they do not start Shesterkin as their team is a mess in front of him. This season, the Rangers rank just 28th in the league in five-on-five expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF) and 23rd in five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA).
Carolina Needs To End Skid
The Carolina Hurricanes enter this matchup looking to break a three-game losing streak. There is no better spot for them to do so than at home against Georgiev.
Frederik Andersen is projected to get the start between the pipes for Carolina and has seen his play elevate even higher when playing on home ice as he boasts an impeccable 0.932 save percentage at PNC Arena. Over his last nine home starts, Andersen is 8-0-1 with a stellar 0.936 save percentage.
Five of those eight wins were by two or more goals, and I think the Hurricanes cover the spread again in this matchup against a team in which they are superior both statistically and analytically. This season, Carolina ranks better in both five-on-five expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF) and five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA).
Rangers vs. Hurricanes Pick
I have a simple rule in that every time Georgiev starts for New York, you bet on the other side. This strategy has been nearly flawless all season and has been a great bankroll builder.
We already saw Andersen beat Georgiev on home ice 6-3 earlier this season, and there is no reason to expect anything different this time around.
Pick: Carolina Hurricanes -1.5 (+135) | Play down to (+115)
