Rangers vs. Hurricanes Betting Preview: Odds, Trends, Series History

The New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes will meet in the postseason for the first time since the Rangers erased an 0-2 deficit to win their second-round series two years ago.

Despite winning the season series and the Metropolitan Division, the Rangers are an underdog to win the series.

Odds and live betting will be available at the online sportsbook for each game, starting with Game 1 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, May 5.

Rangers vs. Hurricanes Game 1 Odds & Trends

After ending the regular season with only two ATS wins in their final eight games, the Rangers covered in three of their four first-round games against the Washington Capitals. It was their first time covering at least three games in a single playoff series since covering four times in the six-game loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals.

• Game 1: Win (-1.5)
• Game 2: Loss (-1.5)
• Game 3: Win (-1.5)
• Game 4: Win (-1.5)

The Hurricanes covered in seven of their final nine regular-season games and four of five first-round games against the New York Islanders. They’ve covered 11 times over a 14-game stretch for the first time since January 2016.

Carolina was favored in each of those 14 games, and has been favored in 92% of all games this year, the most among all teams. Even with the strong finish, they enter the second round eight games under .500 ATS as a favorite.

The Rangers, meanwhile, have been dominant against the puck line as an underdog. They’ve covered in 16 of 19 opportunities, including against Carolina on March 12. Only the Boston Bruins have a higher underdog ROI this year (including the playoffs):

• Bruins: 31.6%
• Rangers: 20.8%
• Stars: 15.9%
• Canadiens: 13.8%
• Flyers: 11.8%

Rangers vs. Hurricanes Series Odds & Trends

More than 20 series-long NHL betting markets are available, including series winner:

Series Winner

• Rangers: +130
• Hurricanes: -155

The teams have split two all-time playoff series. Two years before losing the 2022 second-round series, Carolina swept the qualifying-round series in 2020, 3-0. Both years are part of an active six-year streak with at least one playoff series win, the longest active streak in the NHL.

Total Games

• Under 4.5: +550
• Over 4.5: -800
• Under 5.5: +145
• Over 5.5: -190
• Under 6.5: -250
• Over 6.5: +200

Approximately 14% of all Stanley Cup playoff series end with a sweep. That’s 6 percentage points lower than the implied probability (20%) of +550 odds for under 4.5 games. That leaves 86% of all series to reach at least a fifth game, though the implied probability of -800 is 89%.

Game/Series Double

• Rangers win Game 1, win series: +200
• Rangers win Game 1, lose series: +325
• Hurricanes win Game 1, win series: +160
• Hurricanes win Game 1, lose series: +500

The Rangers’ Game 1 win over the Capitals and eventual sweep ended a streak of three straight playoff series in which the Game 1 winner didn’t win the series. Most recently, they lost last year’s series against the Lightning despite winning Games 1 and 2.

Carolina, meanwhile, has played four straight series — and 11 of their last 12 — in which the Game 1 winner has won the series.

Hurricanes vs. Rangers Series History

The Rangers have won nine of the last 12 games in the series, including the postseason. They’ve lost the regular-season series only one time in the last 17 years.

*Postseason game