Things are going to get busy in North Carolina, as the Nashville Predators make a visit for Game 1 of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Hurricanes await the Preds as the top No. 1 seed in the Central Division, while Nashville is a No. 4 seed.

It’s clear to say that Carolina is the top favorite due to that seed spot, plus ending the regular season with a 16 point advantage over the Predators. Though interesting enough, they met for the final two games of the regular season, with Nashville beating Carolina with ease. Could this be the case again? Or will the Hurricanes step up as the No. 1 seed in their division?

NitroBetting news goes over the highlights of the upcoming game, including recent team form, the latest NHL odds, betting trends, and betting predictions, all of which are geared to help you lock in those winning picks. Don’t forget to check out more Hockey betting odds and lines at our online BTC sportsbook before placing your bets!

Predators vs. Hurricanes Game 1 Information

• When: Monday, May 17, 2021, 8:00 PM ET
• Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina
• TV: CNBC, BSSO, SNE, TVAS
• Radio: (Predators 102.5 The Game) / (Hurricanes 99.9 FM The Fan)
• Live Stream: NHL Live
• NHL Betting Odds: Carolina Hurricanes (-169) / OU: 5.5

READ MORE: Avalanche vs. Blues NHL Playoffs Odds and Game 1 Preview — May 17th, 2021

Why Bet on the Nashville Predators?

Many say that the reason the Preds made it to the playoffs is due to goalpeeker Juuse Saros. The Finish star stopped 92.7% of the shots he received, making him the fourth best ranking during this regular season and he’s also fifth in the league with goals saved above expectation with +13.2. He will definitely be an issue for the Carolina offense.

When compared to Carolina, Nashville currently has 2.25 ranking for goals scored against per hour, which is slightly better than the Hurricanes’ 2.19. They also performed better when limiting high danger chances, giving up only 0.37 chances per 60 minutes than their opposition. There’s a feeling of Nashville could overcome Carolina once again, but by a minimum.

Why Bet on the Carolina Hurricanes?

The Canes took the Central Division, winning it’s first division title since 2006. In that season, they finished first in the Southeast Division, then won the Stanley Cup, their only one to date. It’s been a while since they’ve held the title and many think they go all the way in 2021.

Looking at current stats, Carolina ended second on the power play with 25.6% and third in penalty kill with 85.2%, making it their first time in their existence to rank in the top five for both categories. So compared to the Predators, they have a more elite team in every way.

We did mention at the beginning how Nashville took the last couple of games against the Canes, but we hadn’t mentioned that they won the previous six meetings before those last two. They also outscored them by a total of 24-17 across those eight games. We just have to wait and see if they can keep those numbers up during the postseason.

Predators vs. Hurricanes Betting Trends

• The Predators are 3-13 SU in their last 16 games against Carolina.
• The Predators are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.
• The total went Under in 5 of the Predators’ last 6 games when playing as the underdog.
• The Hurricanes are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games at home.
• The Hurricanes are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games when playing at home against Nashville.
• The total went Under in 5 of the Hurricanes’ last 7 games.

Predators vs. Hurricanes Expert Betting Predictions

One can say that the Carolina Hurricanes are the safest bet. They are playing at home and their performance this season has been superb. And the games against Nashville during the regular season could safely say it’s in their favor.

But though Nashville lacks star talent on the roster, the team still can roll four lines and still pose a threat to them. They come along with a strong defense and a young goalkeeper that could be the death for Carolina.

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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.