Two Metropolitan Division foes will face off in round two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as the New Jersey Devils visit the Carolina Hurricanes. Both of these teams took out a New York club in round one, with the Devils beating the Rangers and the Hurricanes blowing away the Islanders. Below is my NHL betting pick for Devils vs Hurricanes Game 1 from Raleigh.
Devils vs Hurricanes Game 1 Betting Pick
| ℹ️ The Pick: | Hurricanes Moneyline (-120) |
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This game will be played at PNC Arena at 7:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
Why Bet on the Hurricanes:
✅ Carolina had several more days off than the Devils heading into this series, which will help the Canes come out sharper here.
✅ The Hurricanes are the superior defensive team heading into this matchup and will be able to slow down the road weary Devils to begin this series.
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New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils needed seven games to advance past the New York Rangers in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But the series was lopsided in the Devils favor after the first couple of games. New Jersey shut the Rangers out in Game 7 of the first round, and will look to keep their momentum going with a win once the puck drops in Devils vs Hurricanes Game 1.
The biggest question for the Devils in this series opener is whether they can sustain the level of energy needed to set the tone in this series. They are at a severe rest disadvantage going into this game, which could be problematic for them. But it is also possible that the adrenaline of being in the postseason can help offset that.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes took care of business against the New York Islanders in six games. The final game of that series was a 2-1 overtime win for the Hurricanes on the road. That allowed Carolina to enjoy an extra couple of days off between that series and this one, which could come in handy as the Canes return home to open this best of seven affair with the Devils.
Carolina’s defense was excellent for the most part in the first round against the Islanders. They allowed more than three goals in just one of the six games in that series. Their fresh legs should help the Canes remain stout defensively here.
