The NHL concludes another week with an eight-game slate on Sunday, March 12, and this divisional rivalry game is the most intriguing, so make sure you get the best Hurricanes vs. Devils betting pick and odds.

Both Carolina and New Jersey will play the second game of a back-to-back set when they meet at Prudential Center. The Hurricanes are -122 moneyline favorites on BookMaker Sportsbook, while the total is set at 6 goals. These Metropolitan Division rivals will face for the fourth time this season; the Hurricanes lead the series 2-1.

Hurricanes won four straight

The Carolina Hurricanes (43-12-6-2, 28-35 ATS) weren’t discouraged by the fact that two losses snapped their five-game winning streak. They responded with four wins in a row, allowing just four goals during that stretch. The latest win came against the Philadelphia Flyers at home; not only the Hurricanes didn’t allow a goal, but they kept the net intact for the second time in three games. Carolina is in 2nd position in the Eastern Conference with 94 points, four more than New Jersey and 11 behind the Boston Bruins.

Andrei Svechnikov scored a power-play goal in the opening half against the Flyers, and that was the only goal in the game. The Canes allowed just 19 shots and goalie Pyotr Kochetkov recorded his fourth shutout of the campaign. This year, Martin Necas is Carolina’s most valuable player with 60 points (G 25, A 35), followed by Sebastian Aho with 55 (G 27, A 28) and Svechnikov with 55 points (G 23, A 32).

Pyotr Kochetkov is expected to take his place between the pipes on Sunday against the Devils. The 23-year-old is conceding 2.21 goals per game this season with a .917 SV% and four shutouts.

LW Max Pacioretty (Achilles), D Jalen Chatfield (upper body), and RW Ondrej Kase (concussion) are out indefinitely.

Devils edged the Capitals in the SO

The New Jersey Devils (42-16-3-3, 33-31 ATS) are also playing well of late; they won five of the previous seven games, three of which came after overtime or shootout. The Devils snatched a 3-2 victory against the Washington Capitals on the road and preserved the 3rd position in the Eastern Conference with 90 points.

Erik Haula and Dawson Mercer scored two goals in the space of 50 seconds in the second period to make it 2-1 for the Devils against Washington, but the Caps equalized a few minutes later and the game went to overtime and later penalty shootout. Timo Meier scored the lone goal in SO and the Devils deservedly got two points considering they attempted 40 shots opposite Washington’s 22. Although he didn’t record a point in this win, Jack Hughes leads the Devils in points this season with 76 (G 36, A 40). Dougie Hamilton with 61 (G 18, A 43) and Nico Hischier with 59 points (G 27, A 22) are among the key contributors on offense.

Akira Schmid (7-4-1) will probably take his place in the cage on Sunday against the Hurricanes. The 22-year-old is allowing 1.99 goals per contest with a .925 SV% and one shutout.

G Jonathan Bernier (hip) and G MacKenzie Blackwood (lower body) are out indefinitely and will not play on Sunday against the Hurricanes.

Trends:

Carolina:

N/A

New Jersey:

  • 8-2 in the last ten home games
  • 8-2 in the last ten vs. Eastern Conference rivals
  • 4-1 in the last five games playing without rest
  • 7-0 in the last seven vs. Metropolitan Division opponents

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils Pick

We’re dealing with two of the top 10 offenses and defenses in the NHL, so this game is not going to be easy to predict. I am giving a slight advantage to the Devils because this is a battle for the Metropolitan Division title, and New Jersey will be looking to tie the season series. New Jersey won eight of the last ten home games, and even though the Canes are playing well on the road, the home-court advantage can be crucial here. Jack Hughes is a player to watch; he registered only two points in the last five games and is without a point in the previous two.

Pick: Take the Devils to win (-101)

The Total

The three H2Hs these teams have played this season produced 22 goals. New Jersey is averaging 3.55 goals per game opposite Carolina’s 3.38 goals per contest, so there is a possibility that another high-scoring affair will occur on Saturday. Over is 9-4 in the Hurricanes’ last 13 vs. Metropolitan Division rivals; Over is 7-1 in the Devils’ previous eight overall, Over is 4-0 in New Jersey’s last four home games, while Over is 4-1 in the Devils’ previous five vs. Eastern Conference opponents.

Pick: Go Over 6 goals (-110)