NHL Playoffs Odds: Carolina at New Jersey, Game 4 for Semifinals

The New Jersey Devils put on an offensive show in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Carolina Hurricanes to cut the Canes’ lead in the series to 2-1. Game 4 is back in New Jersey on Tuesday with the Devils favored on the NHL odds.

Hurricanes vs. Devils, Game 4 | 2023 NHL Expert Analysis

How to Bet Carolina at New Jersey NHL Hockey Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 7 PM ET
Where: Prudential Center
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: Tunein.com
Opening NHL Lines: Devils -155, Hurricanes +135 (total 5.5)

Why Bet on Carolina?

Carolina dominated the first two games of the series but lost Game 3 on Sunday 8-4. Pyotr Kochetkov allowed four goals on 22 shots. Kotchetkov entered in relief of Frederik Andersen with the Hurricanes down 4-0 less than a minute into the second period. The Hurricanes rallied for four goals over the final two frames, but Kotchetkov couldn’t stop the bleeding on the defensive end.

“Give them the credit, they came and took it to us. That’s what happened. We were horrible, and that’s probably putting it mildly. It was all because of what they were doing. They were the better team, no doubt,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said.

The 23-year-old Kotchetkov was called upon to back up Andersen prior to Sunday’s contest with Antti Raanta (illness) unavailable. Raanta likely will be back Tuesday. In five starts so far in this year’s playoffs, Raanta holds a 3-2-0 record, carrying a .906 SV% and a 2.59 GAA. The 33-year-old Andersen had won his first three postseason starts before Sunday’s letdown, allowing just three goals in that span.

Jordan Martinook had a goal and assist on Sunday. He now has three consecutive two-point games, tallying two goals and four assists, after he was held scoreless in Carolina’s opening-round series against the Islanders. The 30-year-old winger has given the Hurricanes’ lineup an unexpected boost since moving into a top-six role following an injury to Teuvo Teravainen (hand).

Seth Jarvis had a goal and assist in the loss. The 21-year-old Jarvis has been productive on Carolina’s top line, recording four points (two goals, two assists) in his last three games. He’s up to eight points (four goals, four assists) through nine postseason contests.

Carolina became just the fourth team in NHL history to score three shorthanded goals in a postseason game. The feat had not been accomplished since the 1983 Edmonton Oilers. Martinook became the sixth player in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to score on a penalty shot goal while shorthanded. He joined Mitchell Marner (Game 1 of 2019 R1 w/ TOR), Daniel Cleary (Game 5 of 2007 CQF w/ DET), Neal Broten (Game 3 of 1989 DSF w/ MNS), Petr Klima (Game 3 of 1989 DSF w/ DET) and Wayne Gretzky (Game 3 of 1984 CF w/ EDM).

Bet Hurricanes to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Why Bet on New Jersey?

New Jersey’s best players played their best game to help the club start to crawl back into their second-round series with the 8-4 win in Game 3. Brothers Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes combined for six points. Luke Hughes had two assists and Jack Hughes two goals and two assists as they joined forces with Dawson Mercer (three assists) to give the Devils nine points from players age 21 or younger en route to victory.

New Jersey became the first team in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs to score eight goals in a game – it marked the second most in a postseason contest in Devils/Rockies/Scouts history, behind Game 3 of the 1988 Division Finals (10). The Devils have a franchise record for most combined points by players age 21 or younger in a single postseason as the Hughes brothers and Mercer boosted the Devils’ total to 17 on Sunday, surpassing 2001 and 1995 (both w/ 14).

Jack Hughes (21 years, 358 days), who became the youngest player in franchise history to register four points in a postseason contest, improved his playoff point totals to 5-4—9 (10 GP). He tied Brendan Shanahan (5-4—9 in 18 GP) for the third-most points by a Devils/Rockies/Scouts player in the postseason at age 21 or younger, trailing only Scott Gomez (9-15—24 in 48 GP) and Scott Niedermayer (6-12—18 in 45 GP).

Jack and Luke became the first set of brothers to factor on the same playoff goal since Daniel and Henrik Sedin in Game 6 of the 2015 First Round. They also established themselves as the sixth set of brothers to combine for six-plus points in a postseason contest for the same team.

New Jersey joined the Rangers (Game 3 of 1983 DF) and North Stars (Game 3 of 1981 PRLM) as the only teams in NHL history to give up at least three shorthanded goals in a postseason game and win. The Flames also did so but fell to the Oilers in Game 3 of the 1983 Division Finals.

Vitek Vanecek stopped 26 of 30 shots in the victory. The 27-year-old Vanecek is now 1-2-0 with a subpar .845 save percentage in the playoffs. Still, there’s a good chance the Devils will turn back to Vanecek in Game 4 after he replaced Akira Schmid in the first two games of the series and won Game 3.

Bet Devils to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Game Trends

Hurricanes are 4-0 in their last 4 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Hurricanes are 23-9 in their last 32 games following a loss of 3 or more goals.
Hurricanes are 27-13 in their last 40 games playing on 1 days rest.
Devils are 8-2 in their last 10 home games.
Devils are 2-5 in their last 7 Tuesday games.
Home team is 16-5 in the last 21 meetings.