Devils vs Bruins NHL Spread/Handicapping
Time is running out on the Carolina Hurricanes – they are 1-8-1 in their last 10 games and are sliding out of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Their task doesn’t get any easier on Monday night when they travel to Boston to take on a Bruins team looking to rebound after losing to division rival Montreal on Saturday night.
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Carolina Hurricanes (16-19-1-1) at Boston Bruins (24-9-2-2)
When: 7:00 PM ET, Monday, April 8, 2013
Where: TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Broadcast: NHLN-US, FS-CR, NESN
Canes vs. Bruins Betting Lines from betonline.com
Carolina Hurricanes +1½ -160 +195 Ov 5 -130
Boston Bruins -1½ +140 -215 Un 5 +118
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Headline: Spiraling Hurricanes In Boston Monday Night
Carolina enters Monday night’s showdown having lost four straight games including all during their recent three game home stand while Boston is just over .500 in their last 10 games looking to ramp up before the playoffs begin.
The Carolina Hurricanes are coming off a 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers – one of the teams that they are chasing in the East. But it’s not like they played poorly. They fired 49 shots at Henrik Lundqvist but were unable to solve the Rangers netminder. Saturday’s loss was perhaps their best performance in the last week – their last three losses have come by a combines 14-4 score. The Hurricanes have been outscored 46-18 in going 1-10-1 in their last 12 – ugly.
Alex Semin, second on the team in points is day-to-day with an upper body injury, Chad LaRose and Joe Corvo are pointless in five games, Tim Gleason ins pointless in 11 games, Jay Harrison hasn’t recorded a point in 12 games and Jamie McBain hasn’t recorded a single point in 15 games – ya they are struggling!
That`s the bad news. Now for the good. Carolina has totaled 17 goals during a 4-1-0 stretch against the Bruins and Eric Staal had a goal and an assist in the first meeting and has scored one goal in each of his last four in the series.
Defensively, the Canes are still near the bottom of the league and the continued absence of Cam Ward certainly doesn`t help. Dan Ellis, 0-5-1 with a 3.61 GAA in his last seven starts, has allowed seven goals in two career starts – both losses – against the Bruins. Yuk.[ad-4437448]
The Boston Bruins are also struggling to find the back of the net as of late. They are just 3-2-0 in their last five and have scored eight goals over that span. They’re 1 for 21 on the power play in their last 11 contests and scored just once Saturday night against Montreal.
However, the team has won eight of their last nine games on home ice and is an Eastern Conference best 13-2-2 at home this season. It has been defense that has gotten it done, as you would expect with a Bruins team. They have limited opponents to 13 goals while going 7-0-1 in their last eight in Boston.
Tuukka Rask has posted a 4-0-1 record with two shutouts and a 1.55 goals-against average in his last five home starts, while backup Anton Khudobin has won all four of his home starts with a 1.75 GAA. Either keeper will likely have their way Monday against a Carolina team that simply can`t buy a victory.
Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• CAR are 1-11 in their last 12 overall.
• Under is 7-1 in CAR last 8 road games.
• Under is 9-2-2 in CAR last 13 overall.
• BOS are 7-1 in their last 8 home games.
• BOS are 21-5 in their last 26 Mon. games.
• BOS are 8-2 in their last 10 vs. Southeast.
The Carolina Hurricanes have gotten the better of the Bruins the last couple of seasons but there is too much going against them ahead of Monday night’s contest. Alex Semin is likely out again and Cam Ward, the architect of much of their recent success is still on the shelf. Boston will be a hungry group after losing to Montreal yet again on Saturday night and given their recent domination on home ice, it all adds up to a relatively easy win for Boston Monday night. It is nearly impossible to have any confidence in the Canes at this point in time.
Pick: Boston Bruins -215
