We have loved the action throughout this impressive NHL 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 two Round 2 games on today’s schedule!
New York Rangers @ Carolina Hurricanes – 7.00PM ET
The New York Rangers head on over to Carolina to kick off their series with the Hurricanes. The Rangers got through to the second round by the absolute skin of their teeth, winning Game 7 against the Penguins in overtime. It was a similar story for the Hurricanes, as they were pushed by the Bruins to seven games, and ended up winning Game 7, 3-2.
Marko Nadin
The Carolina Hurricanes entered the playoffs as one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup this season but had a tough road in the opening playoff round. The Hurricanes needed 7 games to go past the Boston Bruins, who they dominated in all three games during the regular season. Now they are going against the New York Rangers, another team they had success in the regular season. The Hurricanes have 7 players on their roster who have played for the Rangers in the past.
New York is also coming from a 7-game series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Rangers managed to win that series after being 1-3 down, winning the decisive game in overtime. Carolina won 3 of 4 regular season games against the Rangers and has won 6 of the last 7 against them. Carolina has also won the last five Conference Semifinals games, 25 of the last 33 games as favorites and 42 of the last 58 road games. The Rangers have won 5 of the last 6 games played on Wednesday, 6 of the last 8 games played after two days of rest and 9 of the last 13 road games.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-164)
Tony Battalio
The New York Rangers had an incredible comeback in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They were facing a 1-3 deficit against the Pittsburgh Penguins and bounced back to win three straight games and take the series 4-3 in Game 7 at home. Now they will look to take Game 1 against another Metropolitan Division rival, the Carolina Hurricanes. They were one of the biggest surprises of the regular season and now they have turned into a dark horse contender to win the Stanley Cup trophy.
The Carolina Hurricanes are coming into this game as the favorites in this seven game series here in the second round. They had a crazy series with the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs that they captured a 4-3 series win after winning Game 7 at home. As for the result of Game 1 of this second round series, I am going with the Carolina Hurricanes to pick up the win over the New York Rangers.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Carolina Hurricanes (-164)
Jeffery Thomas
The New York Rangers were able to make the historic 1-3 comeback in the first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins and now will turn their attention over to the Carolina Hurricanes. These two are Metropolitan Division rivals with the Canes being the team with the crown for the 2022 season. Both teams are also coming off a hard-fought series, with Carolina needing seven games to take care of the Boston Bruins in the first round. It would appear that the Rangers have the significant goalie advantage on paper, with the Canes on their backup goalie and Igor Shesterkin being the Vezina trophy favorite, but he battled inconsistencies in the first round against the Penguins.
Igor was 0-2 against the Canes in the regular season posting a 3.63 GAA and .883 save percentage so he’ll need to play much better to give his guys a chance at the Conference Finals. The Hurricanes dominated the regular season matchup, winning 3 of the 4 meetings and outscoring New York 16-8 in the process. I think the Canes continue their run of success against their rivals but I think the better value is the total. Every game in the Rangers’ first round series went over the total while Carolina’s games in the first round were 5-1-1 to the over. I think we get plenty of goals here so give me the over in Game 1.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Over 5.5 (-118)
Edmonton Oilers @ Calgary Flames – 9.30PM ET
The Edmonton Oilers will be on the road for their first two games of Round 2 when they do battle with the Calgary Flames. The Oilers were taken to seven games in their opening series of the playoffs against the Kings. The Flames were also taken to seven games, against the Stars, and they ended up winning Game 7 in overtime, 3-2.
Marko Nadin
Both the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers are coming off seven-game opening round series to set up the Battle of Alberta in the second round. The Flames were one of the best teams in the league in the second part of the regular season but needed an overtime Game 7 goal to advance past the Dallas Stars team who barely made the playoffs. The Oilers were favorites in the series against the Kings but found themselves being 2-3 down going to Los Angeles. However, they managed to lift their game to another level and go past the Kings.
Both teams won two head-to-head games in the regular season and they have split the last ten matchups. The Flames have won 6 of the last 7 games as home favorites, 20 of the last 28 games played after two day rest and the last 8 games played on Wednesday. The Oilers have won 12 of the last 16 games following a win, 9 of the last 12 games against teams with a winning record and 27 of the last 37 games after allowing no more than two goals in the previous one.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-160)
Tony Battalio
The Edmonton Oilers survived a crazy seven game series with the Los Angeles Kings. Now they will face off with a fellow Canadian team when they play their division rivals the Calgary Flames. It is expected to be a great series as both of these teams are the last two “foreign” teams left after the Toronto Maple Leafs lost in Game 7 of the series to the two time defending Stanley Cup champions the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Calgary Flames came virtually out of nowhere in the middle of the season to win the Pacific Division. Then they had to survive a seven game series with the Dallas Stars in the first round to get to this point. Now they have an entirely new challenge as they will have to deal with one of the best players in the National Hockey League, Connor McDavid. This is certainly going to be one of the best series of the second round. As for the result of Game 1, I am going with the Calgary Flames to grab the win at home.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-160)
Jeffery Thomas
The Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames both fought through a long seven-game series in the first round and now will battle each other in the battle of Alberta in the second round. The Oilers come in as the underdogs in the series but can not be counted out as they possess one of the most lethal power plays in the game. Calgary on the other hand though, does have an elite defense that will give Connor McDavid and company fits.
The Flames ranked as the third-best defense in the regular season and only allowed 2 goals a game in the first round. Calgary getting Game 1 at home is a huge determining factor for me, as they are 24-9 in their last 33 home games while the Oilers are just 2-6 in their last eight games as a road underdog. I think Calgary takes Game 1 in this series, much like they did in Round 1 and puts pressure on the Oilers to respond.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Calgary Flames (-160)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
