Carolina Hurricanes @ New Jersey Devils - April 25, 2025

As the Carolina Hurricanes prepare to face off against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center, this matchup presents an intriguing clash of division rivals. The oddsmakers have opened with the Hurricanes as -165 moneyline favorites, indicating a strong belief in their ability to secure a win despite recent struggles.

Looking back at their last encounter, Carolina emerged victorious with a 3-1 win over New Jersey. This result not only favored those who backed the Hurricanes but also reinforced trends that suggest defensive strength and goal-scoring efficiency will play critical roles in determining the outcome of this game.

Analyzing both teams’ offensive stats reveals some telling insights. The Hurricanes boast an impressive average of 3.25 goals per game on 31.8 shots, translating to a shooting percentage of about 10.3%. Their corsi percentage sits at 58.9%, indicating they control more puck possession than their opponents, which is vital for generating scoring opportunities.

In contrast, the Devils average just 2.9 goals per game with nearly 28 shots on net—yielding a slightly lower shooting percentage of around 10.6%. While they do hold solid possession metrics (corsi percentage of approximately 52.4%), it’s clear that they struggle to convert chances into goals compared to Carolina.

Both teams’ power play statistics further highlight differences in execution during man-advantage situations. The Devils convert roughly 28% of their power plays into goals, averaging about 0.7 power-play goals per game from approximately 2.6 chances—a respectable figure that could pose challenges for opposing defenses if utilized effectively.

On the other hand, Carolina’s power play has been less effective at just under 19%, scoring around half a goal per game from three opportunities each time out. This discrepancy may come into play as special teams often dictate momentum shifts within games.

Defensively, both squads have shown resilience but also areas needing improvement; New Jersey boasts an impressive save percentage of about 89.8% and a penalty kill rate above 82%. In comparison, Carolina lags slightly behind with an overall save percentage near 88.7% and similarly solid penalty-killing numbers at around 83%.

Given these statistical insights and current trends—Carolina’s recent form shows them struggling against the spread with only three covers in their last ten games—but their overall record remains strong (49-30-5 SU). Meanwhile, New Jersey has lost three straight games and is just one win in its last seven outings (42-35-7 SU), making them vulnerable entering this contest.

Considering all factors—offensive capabilities paired with defensive strengths—I predict that tonight will see Carolina come out on top once again against New Jersey while covering the spread comfortably due to their superior goal-scoring ability and shot generation metrics.

As for total scoring? With both teams showing tendencies towards low-scoring outcomes lately combined with solid goaltending performances expected on either side, I foresee this match falling under the total set at five goals—a prediction consistent with recent trends observed between these two clubs.