Expert prediction
NHL Playoffs Game 1: Devils vs Hurricanes Prediction, Odds, and Picks (May 3)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- Carolina Hurricanes beat the New York Islanders in six games in the opening round
- New Jersey Devils overcame the New York Rangers after seven thrilling clashes
Playoff action heats up in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday, as the opening game in the series between the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes takes place. The Hurricanes will have home advantage for each of the opening two games, as they look to take a huge step toward reaching the conference finals.
How To Watch
- When: Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at 7:00 P.M. ET
- Where: PNC Arena, Carolina
- How To Watch: NHL TV
Odds
| Devils | Hurricanes |
|---|---|
Team News
The Carolina Hurricanes will feel as though their passage through to the Stanley Cup finals has opened up following the exit of the Boston Bruins. They certainly appear to be the front runners in the Eastern Conference, but it would be ill-advised to overlook the challenge that awaits them in the conference semi-finals in the form of the Devils.
Carolina looked very strong in the opening round, as they overcame the Islanders in six games. Their two biggest wins in that series were recorded on the road, as they picked up victories in games four and six in New York. The latter of those came in the form of a 2-1 overtime success to book their spot at this stage.
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The New Jersey Devils won’t have as much recovery time as their opponents coming into this opening game, as their position in this stage of the playoffs was only assured on Monday evening. They claimed a dramatic 4-0 win in game seven over the Rangers to land success 4-3. However, their place in this stage looked unlikely after back-to-back defeats in New Jersey in games one and two.
But, it is a testament to their character that they were able to comeback from the brink of elimination. New Jersey was the better team from start to finish in game seven, as they scored twice in each of the second and third periods to set up this showdown with the Hurricanes.
Picks
The Devils have had limited time to prepare for this opening game. Therefore, we expect the Hurricanes to take the opening clash between the sides, but we don’t expect it to be plain sailing for Carolina throughout the series.
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