Hurricanes Ride Momentum Into New York Monday Night

The Carolina Hurricanes have been one of the surprise stories in the NHL so far this online sports betting season, sitting on top of the Southeast Division through 25 games and on pace to make the playoffs after finishing near the bottom of the standings a year ago. The offseason additions of Jordan Staal and Alex Semin have helped to turn things around in such a short period of time, and its one the road where the Hurricanes have played their best hockey early on. Hockey fans in Carolina will hope that trend continues when the team makes the trip to the Big Apple this week, with a date against the New York Rangers scheduled for Monday night.

Carolina Hurricanes @ New York Rangers
Monday March 18, 2013 – 7:00 PM ET
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
NHL Sports Betting Line: New York – 130

The Rangers have trended in the opposite direction early on this season, falling from the best record in the Eastern Conference and a trip to the conference finals a year ago to seventh through their first 25 games of 2013. Head coach John Tortorella finally snapped when he told reporters he was disgusted with his team following a 3-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres last Tuesday night, and it will be interesting to see how his stars respond.

NHL Betting Preview: Carolina Hurricanes

Perhaps the most impressive part about the Hurricanes’ start has been the fact that they haven’t missed a step since losing starting netminder Cam Ward, with Dan Ellis and Justin Peters filling in admirably since he was injured. Then there is the fact that on most nights Carolina scores enough goals to get away with a couple of tough breaks against them, and rank fifth in the NHL in average scoring with 3.2 goals per game. Captain Eric Staal has led the way with a team-high 31 points next to Semin and Jiri Tlusty on the team’s top line, with his brother Jordan holding down the second line duties.

NHL Betting Preview: New York Rangers

The Rangers certainly have the talent level to compete with the best in the Eastern Conference, and while the newcomer Rick Nash has been a stud with a team-high nine goals and 14 assists, the tandem of Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards has combined for just 12 goals through the first 25 games. New York needs more from its star scorers in order to make up for a team with depth better suited for grinding out wins than going goal-for-goal with opponents, and that has been evident in some of their losses. Henrik Lundqvist has held it down again with an 11-9-1 online sports betting record and 2.28 goals against average, but the team in front of him has been far too inconsistent so far.

NHL Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

There is nothing more frustrating for Tortorella than having to watch his best players struggle to score goals, and he will need to find the best way to get the most out of them if they are going to have any chance at going up against the big boys in the conference. Carolina has established itself as one of the most improved teams in the NHL so far this season, so it won’t be that shocking when they go in to New York and steal two points.

NHL Betting Pick: Carolina Hurricanes