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Posted on May 7 prior to Game 2. Odds subject to change.

Carolina to Win the Series

The Rangers have a 1-0 series lead, they are the President’s Trophy Winners, they have home ice advantage throughout these playoffs, yet the oddsmakers have them at just -125 or thereabouts depending on where you shop to win this series over the Hurricanes. A team with that kind of pedigree on paper should be a 2-1 favorite in a spot like this, yet the Rags are not. Furthermore, the Rangers are an underdog in Game 2, at home, and the list goes on and on as to why a team in their position should not be, yet here we are. Why?

In Game 1, the Rangers took five penalties, but the Hurricanes could not post a powerplay marker. By contrast, New York made the ‘Canes pay for their two minor penalties by potting two PP goals and winning that contest 4-3. This is a results-based business, and wins are wins, but just ask yourself for one second why the Rags took five penalties in Game 1. It’s because they were chasing the Hurricanes all over the ice, as Carolina dominated the play 5-on-5.

To the uninclined, it’s got to be so enticing to back the Rangers considering their current advantage in this series, but we must warn that there are no free lunches in this business and rarely do you find a quality outfit in the discount bin at this point of the season. The books are begging, we repeat, BEGGING for all the Rangers action they can take and that’s a big red flag. If the Rangers post a +2 in the special teams game again tonight, there is a chance that they win this game, but if they do not, the Hurricanes are very likely going back to the Tar Heel state tied 1-1.

Sherwood

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