Rangers vs. Hurricanes Game 7 NHL Picks: Will Home Ice Trend Continue?

A trip to the Eastern Conference Finals hangs in the balance when the Carolina Hurricanes host the New York Rangers in Game 7 on Monday night. Read on for our Rangers-Hurricanes picks and predictions.

With a chance to close things out on Saturday, the Hurricanes skated headlong into an Igor Shesterkin buzzsaw. The Rangers’ Vezina Trophy front-runner stopped 37 shots, while Filip Chytil lit the lamp twice in a New York 5-2 victory.

Will the Hurricanes keep their perfect playoff home record intact and book their ticket to the next round, or will the Rangers ride Shesterkin to a trip to the conference finals?

Here are my picks and predictions for Monday’s Game 7 NHL showdown between the Rangers and Hurricanes (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5 star scale).

Rangers vs. Hurricanes Game Info

Date/Time: Monday, May 30, 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN, Sportsnet
Location: PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC

Rangers vs. Hurricanes Odds Analysis

Despite 69% of cash coming in support of the favored Hurricanes, the line has actually moved slightly from -150 to -145 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Some folks are clearly expecting another big game from Shesterkin, and his Rangers can be snatched up at +130 at Caesars Sportsbook.

With low-scoring affairs in five of the first six games, the goal total is rightfully set at 5.5. The Over is paying out at +120, while the Under will net -140.

Rangers vs. Hurricanes Picks

• Hurricanes (-145 via DraftKings) ★★★★
• Under 5.5 goals (-140 via DraftKings) ★★★★
• Seth Jarvis Over 1.5 shots (-180 via Caesars) ★★★★

Check out our top-rated sportsbooks here

Rangers vs. Hurricanes Predictions

Hurricanes (-145)

Ravenous for home cooking, the Hurricanes haven’t lost a game at PNC Arena during the postseason, and that trend should continue on Monday night. It’s been a real Jekyll/Hyde scenario for Carolina, as they’ve balanced their undefeated record at home with a completely winless slate on the road. Within their friendly confines, the Canes have outscored the Rangers 7-2 while posting an impressive 53 Corsi For percentage, and 53.8 expected goals for percentage.

In fact, the Hurricanes have posted superior numbers all series, with a Corsi For of 55.44% and expected goals for of 58.41%. If it weren’t for Shesterkin’s second-round resurgence between the pipes, Carolina likely would have closed the Rangers out already.

I expect the Hurricanes to squeak a few past Shesterkin and continue their dominance on home turf.

Under 5.5 goals (-140)

Neither team has been handing out red light burns during this matchup. While Game 6 provided the highest goal total of the series with seven, no other game has reached the six-goal plateau, with the two teams combining to average 4.2 goals per game. With Shersterkin doing brick wall things and the Hurricanes seemingly unbeatable at home, I just can’t envision a high goal total Monday night.

Returning to the form that made him a Hart Trophy finalist, Shesterkin has stopped 185 of 195 shots for a .949 save percentage and a 1.67 GAA this series. Aside from a shaky performance in Game 6 when he was pulled in the second period after surrendering three goals on 13 shots, Antti Raanta has been a solid presence in the Canes’ crease. Raanta has stopped 128 of 139 shots for a .921 save percentage.

The Rangers and Hurricanes have only eclipsed six goals once in six games, and they likely won’t do it in a tight-checking Game 7.

Jarvis Over 1.5 shots (-180)

Hurricanes rookie Seth Jarvis isn’t launching frozen rubber with unmitigated ferocity, but he is averaging nearly 2.5 shots per game during the postseason, and he’s topped two-plus shots four times in six games. With points in consecutive games, Jarvis is averaging 3.5 shots per game during that two-game stretch, and it’s likely he’ll direct at least two shots on net in Game 7. There is tremendous value backing the Over here.

Where to Bet Rangers-Hurricanes Picks

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

• FanDuel Sportsbook
• Caesars Sportsbook
• DraftKings Sportsbook
• PointsBet
• BetMGM

SEE ALSO: All picks, odds, and sports betting news. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.

Rangers-Hurricanes picks made on 5/30/2022 at 7:04 a.m. ET.

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