Devils vs Hurricanes Game 3 Prediction NHL Playoffs 5/7
- Lm Tipster
- May 6, 2023, 8:16:57 AM
© James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Introduction
The Carolina Hurricanes are leading the series 2-0 against the New Jersey Devils in the East 2nd Round of the NHL playoffs. The third game of the series is scheduled to take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. In this article, we will provide an extensive review of both teams' offense, defense, and injuries and make our prediction on the outcome of the game.
Offense
The Carolina Hurricanes finished the regular season as the second-highest-scoring team in the league, with an average of 3.20 goals per game. They have been able to continue that level of scoring in the playoffs, as evidenced by their 11 goals in the first two games of the series against the Devils. Leading the way for the Hurricanes has been center Martin Necas, who has 71 points on the season and has contributed four points in the playoffs so far. Sebastian Aho has also been a key contributor to the Hurricanes' offense, with 36 goals and seven power-play goals in the regular season. In the playoffs, Aho has already scored two goals and has four points.
The New Jersey Devils have also been a high-scoring team this season, finishing third in the league with an average of 3.52 goals per game. However, their offense has struggled in the first two games of this series, scoring just two goals in total. Jack Hughes has been their leading scorer in the regular season with 99 points, but he has been held scoreless in the playoffs so far. If the Devils are going to get back into this series, they will need their offense to step up and start scoring.
Defense
The Carolina Hurricanes have been one of the best defensive teams in the league this season, allowing an average of just 2.55 goals per game. They have continued that strong defensive play in the playoffs, allowing just two goals in the first two games of this series. Frederik Andersen has been the starting goaltender for the Hurricanes in the playoffs, and he has been outstanding so far, with a 2.48 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. The Hurricanes have also been strong on the penalty kill, with an 84.4% success rate in the playoffs.
The New Jersey Devils have not been as strong defensively as the Hurricanes this season, allowing an average of 2.71 goals per game. They have struggled defensively in the playoffs as well, allowing 11 goals in the first two games of this series. Goaltender Vitek Vanecek has been the starter for the Devils in the playoffs, but he has struggled, with a 3.20 goals-against average and an .893 save percentage. The Devils will need to tighten up defensively if they are going to have a chance of winning this series.
Injuries
The Hurricanes are missing Teuvo Teravainen and Antti Raanta due to injury. Teravainen has been out since May 4, and Raanta was added to the injury report on May 5. However, the Hurricanes have been able to overcome their injuries and continue to play at a high level.
The New Jersey Devils do not have any players listed on their injury report, which could be an advantage for them. They will need all of their players to be healthy and contributing if they are going to win this game and get back into this series.
Prediction
As we have analyzed the stats, the Carolina Hurricanes have been the dominant team in this series, winning the first two games by a combined score of 11-2. They have been superior on both offense and defense, and their goaltending has been solid as well. The Hurricanes are also a deep team, with contributions coming from multiple players.
On the other hand, the New Jersey Devils have struggled to keep up with the Hurricanes in this series. They have been outmatched on both offense and defense, and their goaltending has not been able to keep up with the Hurricanes' potent attack. While the Devils do have a talented roster, they have not been able to find a way to break through the Hurricanes' defense and create scoring opportunities.
In addition, the Hurricanes have momentum on their side after winning the first two games of the series on the road. They have been playing with confidence and are looking to extend their lead in the series. The Devils, on the other hand, are in a must-win situation and could be feeling the pressure.
Based on our analysis, we predict that the Carolina Hurricanes will win Game 3 and extend their lead in the series. They have been the better team in this series, and their dominant performance in the first two games has shown that they are the more talented and well-rounded team. The Hurricanes should be able to continue their strong play on both offense and defense, and their goaltending should be able to keep the Devils in check.
Pick: Hurricanes ML
