BEST LINES: Pinnacle +112 Bet365 +105 SportsInteraction +100  WilliamHill +110

Posted at 1:40 PM EST

OT included. After picking up 17 out of a possible 20 points over their past 10 games, the Hurricanes suddenly got themselves back in the playoff picture. With back-to-back games both at home and both against Detroit, another couple of wins for the hottest team in the league looked incredibly attainable. In the first game of said set last night, Carolina trailed 2-1 and 3-2 before a late third period goal tied it to send the game into OT but it didn’t matter, as the ‘Canes left that invaluable point on the table in that “must win’ contest. Due to a postponed game earlier in the year, the Red Wings will play here again tonight and once again the Hurricanes are in a must win game. If the Hurricanes didn’t find the intensity, will or desire to win last night, what makes one think they’ll find it tonight? Any team can get hot for an extended period of time but a loss to Detroit last night tells us once again that the Hurricanes are not ready to prosper. A loss to Detroit last night reveals once again how Carolina cannot be trusted when expected to win. A team that was ready to take that next step to control its own destiny would have imposed their will last night, controlled the tempo and dictated the play. The Hurricanes did none of that.

Detroit is not going to the playoffs but Henrik Zetterberg played like it was the seventh game of a playoff series. His inspirational play in a game that meant nothing for his team shows why he’s been one of the best leaders in the NHL over the past decade. Detroit is playing the role of the spoiler to perfection. They are not getting pushed around at all and in fact, a close look reveals that the Red Wings have been in every game they have played for weeks with the exception of a couple of bad losses. 

The argument for betting the Hurricanes here is that Detroit will be playing its third game in three days and that is true. However, the Wings didn’t have to travel after last night’s win and they’ll get a good night’s sleep without having to travel for this game. Surely, the Red Wings are aware of Carolina’s quest and a win here all but knocks the Hurricanes out. After this game, Detroit will continue the spoiler role with games against Tampa and Toronto before ending the season with four meaningless games against Ottawa, Ottawa again, Montreal and New Jersey. So, this is it for the Red Wings. They have three games left in succession against Carolina, Tampa and Toronto in which they will have a major impact on who gets in and who does not. Detroit appears to be heavily invested in having a say. They could have laid down last night but didn’t and we wouldn’t bet against them lying down in this one either. Jimmy Howard is playing top-notch goal while Cam Ward is a potential big time liability on any given day.

The three games in three days here is being overplayed in the market because it rarely happens but again, Detroit did not have to travel to get here, which makes a big difference. What we know for sure is that Carolina can absolutely win this game but we also know they did not impose its will last night and they are simply not reliable enough to be priced in this range against a team that is focused and playing well. Misery loves company and Detroit is doing everything it can to bring misery to the ‘Canes. Perhaps, more noteworthy is that the ‘Canes allowed them to last night. That says all we need to know in order to get behind a big underdog in this one.  

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