Two teams facing each other for the first time this season, the Calgary Flames and the Carolina Hurricanes collide at PNC Arena. The opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 29, and fans at home can catch this East-West matchup live on Sportsnet Flames.
Calgary Flames at Carolina Hurricanes Odds
Carolina (-145) is favored over Calgary (+125), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -110 for the over and -110 for the under.
The Hurricanes are 7-4 straight up (SU) and have earned 1.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Metropolitan Division so far this season, isn’t too far off from to what the team managed during the 2018-19 season (46-36). Through 11 regular season contests, seven of its games have gone over the total, while four have gone under and none have pushed. The team is 4-1 SU at home thus far.
Carolina’s converted on 22.2 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.0 percent of all penalties.
Carolina, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.3 times per game this season, a number that’s regressed some from last year’s 3.5 penalties per game the team gave up. After serving an average of 7.7 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to kill penalties for 8.8 minutes per outing this season.
Averaging 27.0 saves per game with a .918 save percentage, James Reimer (2-3) has been the principal goalkeeper for the Hurricanes this season. If they, however, decide to rest him, Carolina could go with Petr Mrazek (5-2-2 record, .909 save percentage, 2.43 goals against average).
Dougie Hamilton and Andrei Svechnikov will each be focal points for the Hurricanes. Hamilton (12 points) has put up six goals and six assists and has recorded multiple points three times this year. Svechnikov has three goals and seven assists to his name and has notched at least one point in four contests.
On the other side of the ice, Calgary is 6-7 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 13 regular season contests, seven of its games have gone under the total, while five have gone over and just one has pushed. Calgary’s 2-5 SU as a road team this season.
Calgary has converted on 19.0 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fifth overall and it’s successfully killed off 88.0 percent of all penalties.
Calgary’s skaters have been called for penalties 4.7 times per game this season, a number that has jumped some from the 3.7 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 9.0 penalty minutes per game a year ago (ninth-most in the league), the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for 11.3 minutes per outing this season.
David Rittich (28.8 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Calgary. Rittich owns a 5-5-2 record, and has registered a .909 save percentage and 2.94 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Flames, the offense will be heavily coordinated by Johnny Gaudreau (three goals, seven assists) and Matthew Tkachuk (four goals, six assists).
Calgary Flames at Carolina Hurricanes Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their past five outings.
- Calgary has managed 30.2 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Carolina is averaging 38.0 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- The Flames are 4-3 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Hurricanes are 5-0 SU in games where they serve more minutes than their opponent.
