NHL betting: Rangers vs. Hurricanes Game 6 odds, pick, prediction for Thu. 5/16

New York Rangers

The Rangers were enjoying a fair amount of puck luck before the series tipped in the Hurricanes' favor. New York has been outshot in all five of its games against Carolina, and is controlling just 46.95 percent of expected goals at 5-on-5 in the series.

A big concern should be a power play that has gone dry in the last three games. And with four goals allowed in Game 4 and three in Game 5, Igor Shesterkin isn't stealing games right now. Is the fatigue factor from a series with multiple overtimes and high-shot volume from Carolina starting to get to him?

Filip Chytil's status also remains a question mark. After a solid outing in his return to action in Game 3, the Czech forward then missed Games 4 and 5 with what has been called an illness. He did practice on Wednesday, and while he didn't take line rushes, coach Peter Laviolette said all players who practiced have been cleared to play. He'd be a welcome option if he's able to return to the lineup.

Blake Wheeler also practiced on Wednesday, after being out since mid-February with a leg injury. He skated in the regular spot of Chris Kreider, who was absent for what Laviolette said he's "hoping" is "normal playoff maintenance."

Laviolette also juggled his defense pairings at practice. Ryan Lindren and Adam Fox stayed together, but K'Andre Miller skated with Jacob Trouba while Erik Gustafsson was with Braden Schneider.

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Carolina Hurricanes

The Rangers won the battle of 5-on-5 expected goals in Game 1, but it's been all Carolina since. And they're trending upward, at 57.26 percent in Game 4 and 55.09 percent in Game 5.

They're also riding three straight games of perfect penalty killing. And their only power-play goal of the series so far was enormous, when Brady Skjei extended the series with his Game 4 blast late in the third period of a game that was tied 3-3.

Rod Brind'Amour did mix up his power-play units at practice on Wednesday, looking for a spark from a group that had the second-best power play in the NHL during the regular season.

Defenseman Brett Pesce also hit the ice on Wednesday for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury in Game 2 of the first round. He skated as an extra, and while Brind'Amour downplayed the prospect of his player's return to action, a healthy Pesce would be most welcome on the Hurricanes' blue line in their third-straight elimination game.

After backstopping the wins in Games 4 and 5, expect to see Frederik Andersen back between the pipes for Game 6. He's at a .905 save percentage and 2.8 goals saved above expected in the playoffs.

Rangers vs. Hurricanes

Betting Pick & Prediction

MSG and PNC Arena are two of the most hostile venues in the Eastern Conference for NHL visitors. In this series, each team has won once on the road. But as the pressure mounts, home-ice advantage becomes more important than ever — especially for a Hurricanes team that has reclaimed momentum.

After Carolina opened at -162 on the moneyline for Game 6, there isn't enough value to justify backing the home side.

Instead, look at the total. The Hurricanes' offense is heating up and Shesterkin might be running out of juice, while the Rangers should be able to kick their scoring up closer to their usual levels.

Cracking 5.5 goals shouldn't be an issue.

Pick: Over 5.5 (+102 at DraftKings | Play to -110)

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