NHL Playoffs Best Bet, Pick and Prediction: Friday (5/5)

We have a one-game slate of hockey on Friday as Game 2 is set to get underway with the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the New Jersey Devils. Below, I give out my best bet for Friday’s Game 2.

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Today’s Best NHL Bet

Odds via BetRivers Sportsbook

New Jersey Devils (-107) @ Carolina Hurricanes (-112) | O/U 5.5 (+112/-137)

After their 5-1 victory in Game 1, the Carolina Hurricanes look to take a 2-0 series lead over the New Jersey Devils. Carolina has now won six of the last eight meetings between these two clubs, a trend likely to continue on Friday evening.

The Hurricanes finally turned to goaltender Frederik Andersen in Game 6 of the first round against the New York Islanders. This decision surely did not disappoint, as Andersen is now 2-0 with a .962 save percentage (SV%) and 0.95 goals against average (GAA) over his two playoff starts.

Andersen’s strong play between the pipes could continue against New Jersey, a team he has dominated throughout his career. Through 10 career starts against the Devils, he is now 8-2 with a stellar .935 SV% and 2.00 GAA.

Making Andersen’s job easier is the fact that Carolina is perhaps the best two-way team in the league. At 5-on-5 since the Christmas break, the Canes rank first in the league in both expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) and expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).

Over that same stretch, they rank four and eight spots higher, respectively, than New Jersey in those two key metrics. After a dominating effort in Game 1, look for the better team to handle business on home ice once again in Game 2.

Best Bet: Hurricanes Moneyline (-112)

Best of luck!

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