The 2021 Stanley Cup brings more NHL betting action on Tuesday, May 25, as the Nashville Predators visit the Carolina Hurricanes for Game 5 of their Central Division first-round playoff series.
The Hurricanes comfortably won the first two games on the home ice, 5-2 and 3-0, while the Predators bounced back with a couple of narrow double-overtime wins in Nashville, 5-4 and 4-3, so weโre expecting a great battle Tuesday at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Nashville opened as a +165 road underdog, while Carolina is a -183 moneyline fave on BetMGM Sportsbook. The totals sit at 5.5 goals, and the bookies donโt expect to see a high-scoring affair, paying +115 for the over.
The Predators tied the series after a pair of firecrackers on the home ice
The Nashville Predators didnโt stand a chance in the first two games of this series, but they showed great character in the next two contests at home. Tying the series with a couple of double-overtime wins is a massive boost for their confidence, especially because the Predators lost eight of their ten regular-season tilts against Carolina.
Nashville went 31-23-2 in the regular season and finished fourth in the Central Division. The Predators were 22nd in the NHL in goals scored per game (2.70) and 11th in goals against (2.75). They played some solid defense despite the third-worst penalty-killing percentage in the league (75.4%).ย
Juuse Saros guarded the cage in each of the first four games this postseason, tallying a 2.52 GAA and a .929 save percentage. The 26-year-old goalie was terrific during the regular season, going 21-11-1 with a 2.28 GAA and a .927 save percentage.
The Hurricanes need to tighten up things ahead of Game 5
The Carolina Hurricanes allowed just a couple of goals through the first two games of this playoff series, but they conceded nine in the previous two. The Canes owned the fourth-best defense in the league this past regular season, yielding 2.39 goals per game, so they need to find their mojo as soon as possible.
On the other side, the Hurricanesโ offense is doing a good job. Carolina took a whopping 61 shots towards Juuse Saros in that 5-4 defeat last Sunday, but the Predatorsโ goalie enjoyed a wonderful night. Back in the regular season, the Canes were tallying 3.13 goals per game (11th in the NHL) on a 9.8 shooting percentage (tied-12th).
Carolina started Alex Nedeljkovic between the pipes in each of the first four games of the series, as Petr Mrazek has recently recovered from a thumb injury. Nedeljkovic posted a 2.13 GAA and a .928 save percentage, so he should get another starting nod in Game 5. He was 15-5-3 with a 1.90 GAA and a .932 save percentage this past regular season.
Trends:
Nashville:
- 5-15 in the last 20 games against Carolina
- 2-6 in the last eight games on the road
Carolina:
- 6-0 in the last six home games against Nashville
- 8-1 in the last nine games at home
The Hurricanes have owned the predators lately, winning 15 of their last 20 encounters, and Iโm expecting them to improve that record with a win in Game 5. Carolina possesses more depth than Nashville, and the Hurricanes are arguably a much better offensive team in this matchup.
Juuse Saros has been outstanding all season long, and heโs yielded 13 goals over the previous four contests. The Predators are struggling to compete with Carolina on the defensive end, and if the Hurricanes put on a strong defensive performance, they will win Game 5.
Pick: Take Carolina Hurricanes at -183
The Total:
Iโm backing the under on the totals even though three of the previous four games of this series went in the over, producing seven or more goals in total. The stake is huge in this one, so both teams should be patient, looking to take good care of their net.
Also, both starting goaltenders have been terrific so far. After a pair of proper firecrackers in Nashville, Iโm looking for a tight contest at PNC Arena.
Pick: Go under 5.5 goals at -125