The New Jersey Devils put everyone on notice with their performance in Game 7 against the New York Rangers.

The Devils were unfancied at home against the Rangers but silenced the doubters with a comprehensive 4-0 victory.

All of New Jersey’s best assets were on display against the Blueshirts, but the Carolina Hurricanes represent a different kind of test compared to the Rangers.

Whereas the Rangers are a team that relies on goaltending, special teams and being clinical on counter-attacks to get results, the Hurricanes are a swarming team that likes to smother you and make you earn every inch of ice. 

Carolina is a -126 favorite at home for Game 1, but it’s the Devils who are slight -126 favorites to win the series.

(7 p.m. ET)

It took the Devils two games to get their footing against the Rangers, but they looked like world-beaters once they did.

This was especially true at 5-on-5, as the Rangers really only looked dangerous when New Jersey was thrown off its rhythm by taking penalties.

By series end, the Devils had attempted 54 more shots and created 39 more high-danger scoring opportunities than the Blueshirts at 5-on-5.

New Jersey also won the expected goals (xG) battle at 5-on-5 by a wide margin (17.4 to 12.6). 

It was an impressive display from the Devils, but the Rangers were not a good 5-on-5 team during the regular season, so it is fair to wonder if those numbers will look a lot tighter against the Hurricanes, who have been a juggernaut at even strength for years. 

The Rangers play a pretty passive defensive style, opting to bet on their goalie to keep them in games until you make a mistake they can pounce on and turn into a counter-attack.

The Hurricanes are quite the opposite.

Carolina will be in your face all over the ice and will hunt pucks in order to create chaos and confusion for them to turn into scoring chances the other way. 

And when the Hurricanes have the puck they want to get it deep, forecheck and pump as much rubber to the net as possible.

No team generated more shot attempts at 5-on-5 during the regular season than Carolina, though those numbers did dip a little bit in a slugfest of a first-round series against the New York Islanders.

Carolina has been bit by the injury bug and will likely struggle to score, but this will be an interesting adjustment for the Devils coming off a series where they were able to drive play at 5-on-5 without much resistance.

The Devils will be a trendy underdog in this game and series, but this will be a decent sell-high spot on New Jersey.

You can likely wait out the market, but the Canes are the value side for Game 1.

Carolina Hurricanes -126 (PointsBet)