Welcome to the latest edition of NHL Predictions. Every day, the Last Word on Hockey team takes a hard look at the biggest NHL matches and provides you with all the details and elements that could change the game’s outcome. Today, we’re digging into the contest between the New York Rangers and the Carolina Hurricanes. Be sure to check out our constantly updating list of NHL Predictions as the season moves forward.
NHL Predictions
New York Rangers at Carolina Hurricanes
Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: FanDuel Sports South; MSG 2; ESPN+
The New York Rangers are taking a trip down south to play the Carolina Hurricanes in a long-awaited matchup. The playoffs saw the fiery spark of rivalry ignite into something new as the Rangers almost swept the Canes, who then managed to dig out of a 3-0 hole and nearly take the second round to a seventh game. Ever since, fans of both teams have been hyped for this regular season rematch between these Metropolitan Division rivals. This season, the Canes have worked their way to second place in the Eastern Conference. On the other side of the coin, the Blueshirts have found themselves as the top Wild Card. With both teams considering the trade market, the outcome of this game could change more than just a couple of points on the standings.
The Hurricanes Story
Let’s start off this set of NHL Predictions with the home team, the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes are remaining on home ice in Lenovo Center after a tough road trip and a hard-fought home win. The three-game road trip saw a win against the Philadelphia Flyers on the first night. However, the next evening they failed to get much going as they recorded a loss against the New Jersey Devils. Catching a day’s break before taking on the Columbus Blue Jackets, the next game proved especially unfortunate. Though the Canes still came out with a point in an overtime loss against the Blue Jackets, the extra five minutes of bonus hockey saw the injury of netminder Pyotr Kochetkov – who sustained a head injury in a collision. In the following days, he was placed in concussion protocol.
The Canes Previous Game
As the Canes faced the Dallas Stars on Monday, the bar for expectations sat a tad low. The Stars, which also sit as a leader in their own Division, are in the top five in the league for save percentage. Their defence hasn’t been too shabby, either. In the first twenty seconds, Tyler Seguin buried a double-assisted shot into Carolina’s net for the first goal of the game.
Before the second half of the first period, the Canes were dealt a penalty for too many men on the ice. During this, Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis broke away from the crowd, where Jarvis soon landed his first short-handed goal of the season – on his first shot on goal since returning from a seven-game absence from injury, the longest in his career. However, it was a few minutes later that defenceman Thomas Harley put Dallas back in the lead. The second period was a bit slower. The only goal scored was a wrister from Mason Marchment, giving Dallas the lead by two.
The Third Frame Was a Whole New Game
In the third period, however, there was an explosion as six goals were scored between the teams. The first came on the heels of a power kill as the Canes suffered another too-many-men call at the end of the second frame. With an assist from Jarvis, Aho shot the puck past Jake Oettinger as Martin Nečas left the box. Just shy of scoring the second shorty of the game. A minute and a half later, Jordan Martinook and Jordan Staal got the biscuit up to defenceman Brent Burns at the point who wristed it past Oettinger for his first of the season and the game-tying goal. Not long afterward, Mason Marchment was sent to the sin bin after high-sticking Sean Walker. It was a penalty which soon led to a power play goal from another Canes defenceman, Shayne Gostisbehere.
In the next few minutes, another blueliner donning sweater #4 pushed his team forward as Miro Heiskanen lit the lamp to tie the Stars with the Canes at…four apiece. With a little over two minutes left and another high-sticking penalty against Dallas, Nečas made a wild power play shot. Firing a wrister at Ilya Lyubushkin’s skate for the purpose of deflection, the puck found itself bouncing past Oettinger – giving the Canes the go-ahead goal. The sixth goal of the period was notched by Andrei Svechnikov, as the Stars had emptied their net for an additional skater.
They all count just the same!
That gives #88 another multi-point performance, his 11th in 21 games this season. pic.twitter.com/rGtnAEfybq
— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) November 26, 2024
The game showed a rarely seen side of the team, as they recorded their most physical game of the season. In the game, they delivered 32 hits – approximately double their average per game. Many of the hits came from players lesser known for a sandpaper playstyle, such as Sebastian Aho, Jordan Martinook, and even Seth Jarvis.
The Rangers Story
And now for the next side of the NHL Predictions, the New York Rangers. The Rangers have been facing some difficulty in consistency so far this season. However, despite how it may look from the outside, they have still accumulated more points at this point in the season compared to 2022-23, where they still clinched a spot as a Metropolitan Division leader by the regular season’s conclusion. Nonetheless, there has been a fair bit of concern regarding the Blueshirts. Recent trade rumours have been floating around, with potential trade chips hinted at. The men in question being Captain Jacob Trouba and veteran left winger Chris Kreider.
The previous three games have been brutal for the Rangers. The second half of their western tour saw them face both teams from Alberta, the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. It was not too bad against the Flames, with the game-winning goal for the home team coming midway through the third period. However, the same thing could not be said for the game two nights later. The Oilers dominated the first half of the game, going up 4-0 until Artemi Panarin netted a wrister. However, as the third period came and went, so did two pucks past Jonathan Quick. Though Artemi Panarin scored the final goal, it did not do much for the Blueshirts. The Edmonton Oilers ultimately beat them 6-2 in a brutal loss.
The Blueshirts’ Previous Game
Ahead of Monday’s matchup with the St. Louis Blues, their only home game sandwiched between six road games, it was announced that the lineup would be missing Chris Kreider to an upper-body injury, as well as the continued absence of Filip Chytil. Prior to the game, Matt Rempe and Brett Berard were recalled from the AHL. Berard covered Kreider’s role and Rempe covered healthy scratch Jonny Brodzinski. After the puck dropped, the Blues managed to kill two penalties in the early first period. However, Will Cuylle found the back of the net after a deflected shot, giving the Blueshirts a leg up. The lead was short-lived, however, as Jordan Kyrou soon tied it up.
Less than five minutes after the second frame began, Zack Bolduc snapped a shot past Igor Shesterkin. The goal gave the Blues the lead for the first time in the game. However, Will Cuylle was quick to answer with his second of the night just minutes later. The goal credited a secondary assist to Brett Berard for his first point in his first career NHL game.
The third period soon opened. In just a little over a minute, Justin Faulk retrieved the puck in his own zone, slinging the biscuit up to Scott Perunovich who moved it further up before passing it to Brayden Schenn for a breakaway goal as the St. Louis Blues took the lead once more. Seven minutes later, Zack Bolduc got his second goal of the night, making it 4-2 in favour of the visiting team. Before the game was through, the Blues extended their lead by another goal as Pavel Buchnevich put the puck in the empty net – winning their first game with new head coach Jim Montgomery. During the game, Igor Shesterkin made 38 saves on 42 shots.
The pass. The finish.
Have yourself a night, Cools. pic.twitter.com/T4m70ruKe4
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 26, 2024
NHL Predictions Featuring the New York Rangers at the Carolina Hurricanes
The biggest question going into this game is if we’ll be hearing ‘Slapshot’ or ‘Sweet Caroline’ by the time the final horn blares, but aside from that lingers other significant questions. One of which regards the Blueshirts offensive line and if Chris Kreider and Filip Chytil will be in the lineup. New York Rangers Head Coach Peter Laviolette implied that both would be taking the trip to Raleigh. Nonetheless, whether they will actually be cleared to play or scratched from the game is uncertain.
Meanwhile, there has been some buzz around the net from the rumour mill for the Carolina Hurricanes. According to NHL Insider Kevin Weekes, the Canes have been eyeing the goaltender trade market to help fill in some gaps in the backup situation. A trade isn’t something I would consider likely to occur prior to this game, but how that could impact the thoughts and focus of whoever is in the net may either hinder and frazzle the tendie or help to motivate them significantly.
On paper, the Carolina Hurricanes have been the better team this season, with the Rangers trailing in all standard stats with the exception of save percentage, the penalty kill, and giving up fewer power plays to opponents. The Canes have outscored the Blueshirts by 17 while outshooting them by nearly 100. Meanwhile, the Blueshirts have allowed a little over 140 shots more than the Canes. However, one must consider Carolina’s current goaltending situation, New York’s possible return of two key players, and the elite offensive skill both teams have. This matchup’s outcome is truly up in the air. But it is bound to be one heck of a game to watch.
Prediction: Hurricanes win 5-4
Your Prop Bets of the Night
Per Bet365, the over/under for this game is at 6.5, with under being slightly favoured. Our NHL Predictions for anytime goalscorers on the Rangers, Artemi Panarin (+140) and Chris Kreider (+200), if he is in the lineup. The two could make for some interesting bets. As for Blueshirts points, I would take a look at Mika Zibanejad (-160) and Reilly Smith (+135). For anytime goalscorers on the Hurricanes, both Sebastian Aho (+170) and Seth Jarvis (+190) could be good wagers. For Canes points, Andrei Svechnikov (-180) or Shayne Gostisbehere (+200) I believe would be fair possibilities for a decent return.
Main Photo Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
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