The New Jersey Devils’ bandwagon was loading up after their Game 7 performance against the New York Rangers.
They looked nearly unstoppable in their 4-0 series-clinching victory and that got tongues waggin’ that perhaps the young upstarts were the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
It was hard not to get carried away with what we saw out of the Devils against the Rangers.
But their momentum seemed to seep into the betting market and cause a bit over an overreaction ahead of Round 2.
The Carolina Hurricanes are dealing with injuries that accentuate their most notable flaw — their lack of scoring punch — but this is still a team that finished second overall in the regular season.
Devils vs. Hurricanes pick
(8 p.m. ET, TNT)
The Hurricanes were smothering on Wednesday night and were able to absorb New Jersey’s pace in a dynamite defensive performance.
Carolina was certainly aided by an off night in goal for Akira Schmid, but there was no doubt who the better team was in the curtain-raiser.
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The Devils likely will be sharper in Game 2, but with Carolina’s smothering approach it’s hard to see this game going off the rails.
A tight game would put some value on bets correlated to a low-scoring game like backing this contest to go to overtime or — if you’re feeling froggy — a 75/1 punt on it to be scoreless in regulation.
Devils vs. Hurricanes prediction
60-minute draw (+340, FanDuel)