Carolina Hurricanes – Ottawa Senators

The ice is ready at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, and the stage is set for what could quickly become another showdown in the NHL. The excitement, of course, is whether we have found a good odds?

Because when the Carolina Hurricanes go into game two, it's not just with a 1-0 lead in the series – but as the best team in the Eastern Conference throughout the regular season. Only the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference have collected more points overall.

And perhaps more importantly in this context: Carolina was the league's best home team. 60 points in 41 games at the Lenovo Center is a clear signal of how comfortable they are on their own ice.

We saw that in the opening game. 2-0 sounds controlled – and it was. Carolina controlled the pace, owned the puck and dictated the game from start to finish. The Ottawa Senators were mostly chasing, and never managed to establish the offensive pressure they depend on.

Carolina – odds favorites in the playoffs

Carolina hasn't just been good – they've been the best in the East for an entire season. That's no coincidence. This is a team that combines structure, pace and physical presence on a level few other teams have. That makes them one of the big odds favorites in the playoffs this season.

In game one, we saw the whole package:
They won the shooting statistics, they controlled the puck – and they dominated the duel game. 57 tackles in a playoff game is a clear signal of intensity and will.

This is precisely what makes them so difficult to meet. They can both play and fight – and often do both at the same time.

Home form is also a key factor. 60 points in 41 regular season games shows how comfortable they are at the Lenovo Center, and that gives them an extra edge in this type of matchup.

Defensively, they appear extremely solid, while also producing enough pressure offensively to tilt the games in their favor – without having to take unnecessary risks.

Ottawa – must find answers quickly

Ottawa got a brutal reminder of their level in Game 1. They struggled to play out of their own zone under pressure, and when they did get ahead, they too often finished from poor positions.

Looking at the key numbers from the game, that picture is further reinforced. They lost the shooting statistics 29-22 – but even more telling was the physical play. Carolina won the tackling statistics a whopping 57-39.

That says a lot about the game. Ottawa wasn't just played low – they were also beaten in the duel game. Carolina went to war, and they won it.

This is a team that thrives on pace and individual players in the transition game. The problem is that Carolina is among the league's best at taking away these spaces – and also matching them physically.

If we add that Ottawa was only the sixth best away team in the Eastern Conference (11th overall), the task becomes even tougher here.

If they are to have a real chance, they will have to both handle the pressure better and resist in the duels. Game one gave few signs that they are ready for that level.

Conclusion – the same battle scenario is in the cards

We are left with a Carolina team that not only controlled game one – but also won the most important games of the game: the shot volume and the physical play.

They have been the best team in the East this season, the best home team in the league – and they look extremely comfortable in this series.

On the other hand, we have an Ottawa team that was both played low and beaten in the duels, and which has also not impressed on the road throughout the season.

This looks like another game where Carolina sets the pace from the start, takes control – and doesn't let go. So our recommended play is as follows:

Ice hockey at 01:37: Carolina Hurricanes - Ottawa Senators: Carolina Hurricanes win (2.11)

Carolina has the quality, structure, physique and home advantage to not only win – but to do it convincingly. You're sure to find more great bets on our odds list throughout the NHL playoffs. You'll always find it here!