Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils

New Jersey dropped Game 1 but has won four of its last six on the road, including a 5-2 victory at Minnesota as an underdog. They're 23-17-2 on the road for the season. The offense is third in the NHL on the power play, while the defense is second in penalty killing, ninth in save percentage (.905), and fifth in goals allowed (2.68 per game). Carolina's offense is 25th on the power play and 22nd in shooting percentage, while the defense is 24th in save percentage. The Devils won the giveaway battle in Game 1 (14-12) and had a whopping faceoff edge of 40-26. Carolina's three-goal margin of victory in the series opener has created value on the road side, and this is the biggest payback we've seen all season on New Jersey. I'm backing the Devils to even things up. 

New Jersey opens Game 1 having won four of its last five on the road, including a 5-2 victory at Minnesota as an underdog. The offense is third in the NHL on the power play, while the defense is second in penalty killing, ninth in save percentage (.905), and fifth in goals allowed (2.68 per game). Carolina's offense is 25th on the power play and 22nd in shooting percentage, while the defense is 24th in save percentage. Play New Jersey. 

This is the second game of a home-and-home set, and New Jersey came out in the top 4-2 last night for its third straight win and sixth in seven games. Carolina lost for the third time in four games despite a 31-24 shot advantage. Jacob Markstrom had 29 shots for the Devils, who are 5-1 in their past six after allowing two or fewer goals in their previous game. New Jersey has won eight of 10 against teams with winning records. The Hurricanes have lost four of five players playing on no rest, and they are 1-4 in their past five versus teams that allowed two or fewer goals in their previous game. Carolina has gone UNDER four straight home games, and it is 4-0 UNDER in the second game of a home-and-home situation. New Jersey has stayed UNDER five of six road games and will likely start Jake Allen, who has a 2.79 goals-against average. Take the Devils and the UNDER.

Carolina has won six of the past seven meetings, and the Hurricanes look to bounce back from a 5-2 loss at Nashville on Monday. New Jersey is 1-5 in its past six games against teams that allowed five goals in their previous game. Pyotr Kochetkov is likely in net for the Hurricanes, and he stopped 22 of 23 shots in a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers on Sunday. He is 14-6-0 with a 2.43 goals-against average and has allowed three or fewer goals in five straight starts. Carolina is out for payback after losing 4-2 to the Devils on Nov. 21 when Spencer Martin started and allowed four goals on 21 shots. It was the first time the Devils had beaten Carolina since May 7, 2023. Take the Hurricanes.