The Hurricanes are heavy betting favourites to wrap up their Eastern Conference series tonight against Montreal
After dropping the first game of the Eastern Conference final to the Montreal Canadiens, 6-2, the Carolina Hurricanes have won three straight, with the opportunity to end the Canadiens’ Cinderella story on home ice tonight.
Wednesday night’s loss in Game 4 at the Bell Centre, 4-0, was demoralizing for the young Montreal team. It was demoralizing for me as well, watching it, since I bet that game with my heart, not my head, expecting a Habs’ takeover offensively and a big time.
It ended up being a clinic by the Hurricanes, total control defensively. A Habs player was asked about how the previous two series against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres compared to this one. The player said the Hurricanes are on another level.
Look at the shots on goal the past three games, after the Hurricanes shook off the effects of having 12 days off before they started the Habs series – 18 shots on Frederik Andersen Wednesday, 13 shots in the Hurricanes’ 3-2 win in Game 3, and 12 shots on goal in the 3-2 Hurricanes’ win in Game 2.
In NHL betting, the Hurricanes are solid favourites to win the Stanley Cup, at -150, with the surging Vegas Golden Knights next, at +130, followed by the Canadiens, at +2800.
Throw some dust on that Canadiens’ Cup future if you feel adventuresome. The Canadiens have been a very impressive story during these playoffs. I wouldn’t 100 per cent count them out.
BEST BETS
Montreal Canadiens at Carolina Hurricanes, tonight, 8 p.m. EST, Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
Carolina leads best-of-seven series 3-1
In NHL betting at Betway this morning, not surprisingly, the Hurricanes are big Moneyline favourites, at -236, with the Canadiens at +200. Puckline is Hurricanes -1.5, at +105, with the Habs +1.5 (-135). The Over/Under is 5.5 (O -110, U -110).
Hurricanes ATS -1.5 (+105)
Not going with my heart this time out. The Hurricanes have slammed an anvil down on the Canadiens attack the past three games and they finish it off with an exclamation point tonight.
Carolina is elite when protecting leads, and Andersen was solid, making 18 saves in Wednesday’s shut out. The Moneyline is a little expensive, so I am going ATS. They’ll add an empty netter and cover.
Under 5.5 (-110)
No way this is an Over game, with that stingy Carolina defence, and Andersen’s strong playoff performance overall, with a .928 SV%.
Andersen’s play slipped a bit in Games 2 and 3, but it wasn’t too long ago that he was in the conversation for playoff MVP, and he played well Wednesday in Montreal.
If Montreal falls behind late, they’ll pull the goalie earlier than usual, to avoid elimination, increasing the possibility that Carolina covers.
Carolina unders have been hitting in most of their playoff games and this one feels like another tight, defensive, low-scoring battle.
Frederik Andersen Under 18.5 Saves (-130)
Again, I don’t see Andersen getting a lot of work, since Carolin will clamp down on defence again and look to wrap things up tonight.
Nick Suzuki Over 1.5 Shots on Goal (-180)
No way the Canadian Olympian goes down without a fight. He’s been Montreal’s most active shooter and he’ll push extra for scoring chances tonight.
