Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction, NHL Odds
Carolina has picked up points in each of their past five games and will be putting that streak on the line in Pittsburgh on Thursday. They are looking to improve their spotty 8-10 record on the road this season.
As it stands, Pittsburgh is five points out of the playoffs and this aging Penguins club can not afford to miss the postseason for the second year in a row.
The puck will drop at 7:00 PM EST at the PPG Paints Arena. Keep updated on our moneyline, puckline and Over/Under for Sunday’s matchup on our NHL odds.
Hurricanes vs. Penguins NHL Betting Odds
This will be the second of four meetings between the Pens and Canes this season after Carolina took the first one 4-2. Sidney Crosby scored a pair for Pittsburgh, but it was Seth Jarvis’ two-goal performance that won the game for the Hurricanes. The Canes kept the momentum going after sweeping last year’s season series four zip each one by a single-goal game. The games were close, but only one over that stretch hit the OVER.
Carolina had scored 99 and given up 99 goals coming into Tuesday Night’s game versus the Golden Knights. The 6-3 victory gave them a positive goal differential for the first time this season and had them play the OVER for the second time in their last five. They are now 16-16 on the OVER/Under this season. They are just 4-4-2 in their last 10 games and only covered three times in the last 10, dropping them to 11-21.
The Penguins have been a better bet on the spread this season at 14-16. They have been on a slide recently though, covering just once in the past eight games. Pittsburgh’s offence has gone stale over their last 10 games averaging just over two goals per game. They played the OVER in back-to-back games and have had a total of at least six in four straight. They have a 10-17-3 record on the OVER/UNDER.
Carolina Hurricanes
They managed a point in back-to-back home games before hosting the league-leading Vegas Golden Knights. They got back in the win column in that one with an impressive 6-3 win springing them into an Eastern Conference wildcard spot.
Andrei Svechnikov returned to the lineup after a six-game absence and made an immediate impact opening the scoring with his second of the campaign. After a 1-1 first period, the Hurricanes opened things up in the second period scoring three in the middle frame, followed by two more in the opening minutes of the third, to go ahead 6-1. Vegas would battle back with two goals in the final two minutes for the 6-3 final, tying the Canes’ highest goal total this season.
Their special teams were flawless in the victory, going three for three on the powerplay while killing off the four penalties they took.
Their away record is not pretty for a team that is supposed to be a favourite for the cup, but taking a closer look at it, they are 4-0 in their past four road games within the Eastern Conference.
Pittsburgh Penguins
After being embarrassed 7-0 in Toronto on Saturday Night, the Penguins bounced back to squeak out a win over the Minnesota Wild 4-3 on home ice. Reilly Smith (8) opened the scoring for Pittsburgh en route to a 3-0 lead just five minutes into the second period. The Wild battled back scoring the next three goals to even it at three apiece. Sidney Crosby’s powerplay marker (18) would stand as the game-winner as Alex Nedelkovic would hold off Minnesota for his fourth win of the season.
The powerplay has been a focal point for the Pens this season, but it was on point on Monday, connecting for two goals in the win. They have now scored twice with the man advantage in three of their past four games, all of which resulted in wins.
With an inter-divisional opponent coming to town, expect Tristan Jarry to return to the goal Thursday night. He will be looking to bounce back after a disaster of a start in Toronto, where he gave up four goals in just 21 minutes.