Game: New York Rangers @ Carolina Hurricanes
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Rangers +130, Hurricanes -150
Total: 5.5
If momentum were a thing in this series, one would think the New York Rangers have a great chance of beating Carolina in tonight’s Game 7. Then, one would realize the game is in Carolina where the Hurricanes have been outstanding in this year’s postseason. In this series, the home team has won every game. The Rangers Game 6 victory was in front of their home crowd. It was also the first game of the series that went Over the total.
New York actually chased Carolina goaltender Antti Raanta to the bench after scoring three goals on 13 shots. Raanta will have to be better in Game 7. The seven goals scored in Game 6 were the most of the series. Carolina won Games 1 and 2 by scores of 2-1 and 2-0. When the series came back to Carolina in Game 5, the Hurricanes allowed a single Rangers goal. That is exactly the type of play the ‘Canes will need tonight.
Carolina is now a perfect 7-0 at home in this year’s playoffs. The Hurricanes are 0-6 on the road. The ‘Canes’ home dominance extends back to the regular season too. Carolina has won nine straight at home and, for the season, the Hurricanes are 36-8-4 at PNC Arena.
The Hurricanes have been outscored in this series by multiple goals. Carolina lost Game 3 by a score of 3-1 and Game 4 by a score of 4-1. The ‘Canes responded with a 3-1 victory of their own in Game 5 at home. Can they do it again? One thing they will have to figure out is the power play. In the postseason, Carolina is converting just 12 percent of their power plays.
The Rangers have been outstanding defensively holding Carolina to an average of 1.83 goals per game. Much of that has been due to goaltender Igor Shesterkin, but the Rangers have shown the uncanny ability to block shots on some high-quality Carolina scoring opportunities. In Game 6, the Rangers blocked 23 shots. If they continue to take away prime Carolina scoring chances, New York will have a chance at pulling the upset.
While Carolina has won nine straight at home, the Rangers are just 1-6 SU in their last seven road games. They are also 1-6 SU in their last seven trips to PNC Arena, but the Rangers have won six of their last nine games overall.
Prior to Game 6, no game in the series exceeded five goals. Tonight’s total is 5.5 and Game 7s are notorious for their low scoring. Carolina was the best goaltending team at home this season allowing 2.12 goals per game. The Rangers allowed 2.71 goals per game on the road. It should come as no surprise that both teams trend Under. With five of the six games in the series resulting in the Under, the Rangers now have a 40-51-4 O/U mark for the season. That includes an 18-26-3 O/U record on the road.