Two of the league’s best at killing off power plays, the Carolina Hurricanes and the New Jersey Devils clash at the Prudential Center. This divisional matchup will get started at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 12, and it will be shown live on MSG Network.

Carolina Hurricanes at New Jersey Devils Odds

New Jersey (+155) is entering this one as the underdog to Carolina (-175) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -110 money on the over and -110 on the under.

Though the team is 38-30 straight up (SU) this season, Carolina has actually lost 2.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 68 regular season matches, 35 of its games have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and none have pushed. As an away team this season, the Canes are 19-16 SU.

Carolina has converted on 22.2 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, it has the fourth-best penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 84.0 percent of its penalties.

For the team as a whole, the Canes have been sent to the penalty box 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 5.4 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays an unhealthy 13.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.

Sporting a .905 save percentage and 24.7 saves per game, Petr Mrazek (22-18-2) has been the top option in goal for Carolina this season. If Carolina decides to rest him, however, head coach Rod Brind Amour might go with James Reimer (15-10-2 record, .914 save percentage, 2.66 goals against average).

Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Hurricanes. Aho (66 points) has tallied 38 goals and 28 assists, and has recorded multiple points 15 times. Teravainen has 15 goals and 48 assists to his nameand has notched at least one point in 43 games.

Over on the other bench, New Jersey is 28-41 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. 35 of its games have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and just one has pushed. This season, the team is 13-21 SU at home.

The Devils have converted on just 18.4 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all penalties.

Devils players have been sent to the penalty box 3.9 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five contests. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 5.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.

MacKenzie Blackwood has stopped 28.3 shots per game as the primary selection in the crease for the Devils. Blackwood has 22 wins, 25 losses, and eight OT losses to his credit and has registered a mediocre 2.77 goals against average and a .915 save percentage this season.

The Devils will be led on offense by Kyle Palmieri (25 goals, 20 assists).

Carolina Hurricanes at New Jersey Devils Betting Picks

Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Under

Notes

Betting Trends

Carolina is 5-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while New Jersey is 4-6 in shootouts.

For both of these teams, the total has gone over in three of their past five matches.

The Hurricanes have averaged the league’s third-most shots on goal (33.3) and New Jersey has attempted the 23rd-most (only 30.7).

Over New Jersey’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-2 in those games).

Carolina skaters created 26.7 hits per game last season, while the Devils accounted for 23.5 hits per contest.