We have loved the action throughout this impressive NHL regular season and first round of the playoffs, but now we are entering the second round, with a spot in the Conference Finals up for grabs. We are sure to see the cracking playoffs continue in Round 2, and with the Lightning still alive, many high quality teams will be looking to stop them from winning the Stanley Cup for a third time in a row. But before we get to the Stanley Cup Final, teams must make it through the second round.
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Look below to find our free NHL picks for the one Round 2 game on today’s schedule!
New York Rangers @ Carolina Hurricanes – 8.00PM ET
We have reached the final game of Round 2 in the NHL playoffs, and it is Game 7 between the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes. The series is all tied up at 3-3 after the Rangers got the win last time out 5-3. Can the Rangers snatch victory on the road, or will the Hurricanes be the team to face off against the Lightning in the Conference Finals?
Marko Nadin
No one would have predicted that the series between the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Rangers would go all the way to Game 7. The Hurricanes entered the series as huge favorites and now are pushed to the limit and will have to win Game 7 in order to advance to the Conference Finals where many already thought they would be. Both teams won the home games in this series that didn’t see many goals. Five of the six games in the series ended under 5.5 goals and that will be the case tonight when the season is on the line for both teams. The Hurricanes are still the better team and will likely win this in regulation.
Carolina has won the last 6 games after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game, the last 4 games following a loss of 3 or more goals and the last 4 games when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game. The Rangers have won 6 of the last 8 games when their opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game, 25 of the last 35 games when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game and 6 of the last 8 games played after one day rest.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Under 5.5 (-142)
Tony Battalio
The New York Rangers were able to force their second Game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs in Game 6 on Saturday night. Now they will be looking to grab another one here in Game 7 to continue their magical season that nobody expected them to have. As they weren’t even predicted to be a Stanley Cup playoff team before the 2021-22 National Hockey League season started. They will have to play in front of a hostile crowd in Carolina and earn a win if they want to play in the Eastern Conference Finals against the two time defending Stanley Cup champions Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Carolina Hurricanes are the team that control’s home ice advantage throughout the remainder of the Eastern Conference second round and the Eastern Conference Finals. They will need to use the advantage to their advantage in this one if they want to get the win here in Game 7 over the New York Rangers. They are undefeated at home so far during the first two rounds of these playoffs. They are a perfect 7-0 and I think that will come into play in this game as I’m going with the Hurricanes to get the win.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-150)
Jeffery Thomas
This series between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers is now heading to Game 7 following the 5-2 win at home by the Rangers. This series has been all about the home teams, as each game has simply been won by whoever is hosting so far. Carolina is in fact now the first team in NHL history to lose their first six road games of a playoffs which is ridiculous considering they are still just one win away from the Conference Finals despite that.
The good news is though, that this game is at their PNC Arena where they are 7-0 and outscoring opponents 25-8. The Rangers have been outscored 13-24 in their six postseason road games where they are 1-5. There’s no reason to go against these trends and I also believe Carolina is the better team, so this pick is an easy one for me.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-150)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
