Carolina Hurricanes vs New York Rangers

New York is leading the series 3-2, but the heat is on after losing the last two, 4-3 and 4-1. This has been a close series with five of the last six meetings decided by just one goal. Carolina went 27-10-4 at home during the regular season and had a better goal differential (+63) than New York (+53). They were eighth in the NHL in goals scored during the regular season, while the defense was fourth in goals given up (2.57 per game) and No. 1 in shots on goal allowed. Carolina is 74-30 when playing only its second game in five days, so back home ice to force a Game 7. Take Carolina as a Max Play. 

Carolina won't go down without a fight after losing each of the first three games by a goal,, including Games 2 and 3 in overtime. Artemi Panarin beat goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov 1:43 into OT to give New York a 3-2 victory on Thursday and the Rangers went up 3-0 in the series. Now the Hurricanes will try to stay alive and may keep Kochetkov in net as he gave his team a chance and had 22 saves in his first appearance since April 14. He was 23-13-4 with a 2.33 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage in the regular season. It was the first game of the series that didn't go OVER and the Rangers are 8-2 OVER after allowing two or fewer goals their previous game and Carolina has gone OVER eight of 10 second round games. New York may be looking at a Gentlemen's Sweep in this series. Take the Hurricanes and the OVER as a Max Play.

Carolina is in a must-win spot after going down 2-0 in the series following a 4-3 double-overtime loss in Game 2 on Tuesday. Frederik Andersen had 35 saves for the Hurricanes, but they lost when Vincent Trocheck scored a power-play goal off a rebound at 7:24 of the second OT. The first two games both went OVER, and the OVER is 8-1 in Carolina's past nine second round games. New York is 4-0 OVER in its past four second round games, dating to last season. The Hurricanes are 12-2 as favorites of -151 to -200 and they have won 30 of 44 home games in 2023-24. The Rangers are in the usual letdown situation after winning the first two games at home. New York is 48-38-2 OVER on the season. Dual Max on this game: Take the Hurricanes (Max) and the OVER (Max).

A pair of outstanding offensive teams clash for Game 2. New York took Game 1, 4-3. Carolina is the fifth-highest scoring team in the playoffs (3.67 goals per game) after ranking eighth during the regular season (3.38). Carolina is 11-4 OVER the total after playing two straight divisional games, plus 22-10 OVER on the road versus teams with winning percentages between 60% to 75%. New York is the fourth-highest scoring team in the postseason (3.80 goals per game) after being seventh during the regular season (3.39). The Rangers are 34-23 OVER the total after a win and 25-14 OVER after a three-game unbeaten streak. Take Carolina/New York OVER the total.