Welcome to the latest edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, the team here at Last Word on Hockey will dive deep into analysis for any given game to give you the scoop on what elements can change the outcome. Today, we’re looking at the contest between the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Rangers. Be sure to keep an eye on our other NHL Predictions as the season presses on.
NHL Predictions
Carolina Hurricanes at New York Rangers
Time: 12:30 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: FDSNSO, MSGN, NHLN
The Carolina Hurricanes are heading up to Broadway to take on the New York Rangers in yet another rivalry matchup. This will be the Canes’ fourth game in a row in which they face another team in the Metropolitan Division.
The Hurricanes Story
Starting off this set of NHL Predictions, we’ll discuss the visiting team. The Carolina Hurricanes have gone 2-1-0 in the past three games, all against Metro Division rivals. Against the Washington Capitals in their most recent game on a festive Friday, the Caps were the ones Rocking Around the Christmas Tree. The Canes, however, did not have the puck luck on their side and struggled to light the lamp.
Though there was a glimmer of hope in the second period as Tyson Jost launched the puck to the net, it was ultimately snatched in a mind-blowing windmill save by Charlie Lindgren. Despite feeling unwell during the game, Lindgren was dialed in, making 24 saves. Additionally, the Washington Capitals had an outstanding night defensively, blocking 27 of Carolina’s shots and landing 23 hits. Not helping their case any, the Canes ended up giving away the biscuit 13 times and having it taken away eight times throughout the game.
Having a doughnut on their side of the scoreboard for the majority of the game, they were able to get a Twinkie on it in the third frame, avoiding a shutout. After a give and go with Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis buried the puck into the net.
After a few more minutes, the Caps answered with a goal of their own – or so it was thought. In a wild turn of events, Connor McMichael fired the puck, where it banked past the goal line off of John Carlson’s skate. However, at the time, Carlson was barrelling into the net, which ultimately became dislodged as the puck was on its way. This led to an official review, eventually coming up as a good goal. However, that wasn’t the right answer, as Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour had it reviewed for goaltender interference. After reviewing it for such, the goal was overturned. Despite preventing that goal and additional ones, the Canes were unable to find twine, the game ending with a 3-1 score.
For a second, Washington reclaimed their three-goal lead.
However, a review and a challenge later, the officiating crew ruled that there was goaltender interference.
We’ll play on 3-1 with 5:59 remaining. pic.twitter.com/8caU665MwD
— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) December 21, 2024
The Rangers Story
It is the same song and dance we have been hearing since the first month of play, “The Rangers are having a rough season”. Being realistic, however, the Rangers still have elite talent on their team. Perhaps a rematch with the rival Carolina Hurricanes, who are trudging through their own issues generating wins, will be just what the Blueshirts need to light the spark. A win against a top-three team in the division could potentially be a significant confidence boost.
Their last game dished up some real energy as they faced the Dallas Stars. When the puck dropped, they sat on a three-game losing streak, with the most recent game being a shutout loss to the Nashville Predators. Just under two minutes into the game, Roope Hintz snapped one past Igor Shesterkin, giving the Stars a very early lead. However, it was short lived as Reilly Smith shocked the penalty kill heavy Stars as he snapped a shorthanded goal past Jake Oettinger. Less than five minutes later, Vincent Trocheck slapped one in for the go-ahead goal. The second period was relatively quiet with the scoreboard remaining unchanged.
With 12 minutes and some change left in the third period, the Rangers had to kill off a five-minute penalty after Matt Rempe wound up ejected from the game after elbowing Miro Heiskanen into the glass. In the last few minutes of the game, Chris Kreider notched his 11th goal of the season with an empty netter to make it 3-1.
Having been served 29 total minutes’ worth of penalties, the Blueshirts had to kill 17 minutes of power-play time. The Rangers’ penalty kill was perfect, being the first team since 2011 to prevent goals in 17+ minutes of penalties.
Matt Rempe gets tossed for this hit on Miro Heiskanen in his 1st game back up with the Rangers ? pic.twitter.com/uvVAxvILJd
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 21, 2024
NHL Predictions Featuring the Carolina Hurricanes at the New York Rangers
There are quite a few interesting components that could factor into this for both sides. First off, the time. Early games and the Carolina Hurricanes mix as well as oil and water. Games before 5:00 PM EST have rarely been in favour of the Canes in seasons past, and has already come to fruition this season in back-to-back losses against the Florida Panthers in late November, which marked the beginning of their slump. As for the Rangers, early games haven’t especially phased them in recent memory.
However, a difficulty for the Blueshirts lies on the blueline. Though they have an impressive goaltender save percentage with .908% (league average being .894%), they face the third most shots in the league, averaging 32 shots against per game. Additionally, the Canes sit in the top-five for firing shots in the NHL this season. If the Canes can get into the groove for this early game, the likelihood for a win goes to them. However, if New York can capitalize on any sluggishness or sloppiness in Carolina’s game, the table turns in their favour.
Prediction: Hurricanes win 3-2
Your Nightly Bets
For the Canes, the two players I would be watching are Andrei Svechnikov and Jack Roslovic. Svechnikov has had some decent looks lately. Though he has only logged 10 shots on goal in his last five games, four of those and a goal occurred in the last two. If he can break through the blueline, watch out. As for Roslovic, it wouldn’t be surprising for him to go into the game with a bit more motivation to get a goal, playing in the same rink he called home ice after going from the Blue Jackets to the Blueshirts at least season’s trade deadline. Roslovic has been consistent on logging at least one shot in each of his last five games.
As for the Rangers, the two I would be watching are Mika Zibanejad and Igor Shesterkin. Zibanejad has put over 10 shots on goal in his last five games, with his last game with a goal logging a shooting percentage of 20%. Meanwhile, if Shesterkin is in net, it may be worth it to consider some goaltending bets for this game. In his last five games, he has made 30 or more saves in three.
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Main Photo: James Guillory-Imagn Images
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