In their third head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Penguins take the ice at PPG Paints Arena in a Metropolitan Division showdown. The match will get started at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 23, and you’ll be able to watch it live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Carolina (+130) is entering this one as the underdog to Pittsburgh (-150) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Pittsburgh is 25-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a big slide from what the team recorded during the 2016-17 season (50-32). Among its 49 games this season, 24 have gone over the total, while 23 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the teams 15-8 SU at home.
The Penguins currently tout the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as they have found the net on 26.4 percent of their extra-man chances this year. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 12th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.7 percent of all penalties.
The Penguins, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 4.2 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five outings at home. The teams had to kill penalties for just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, overall.
Boasting a .903 save percentage and 24.7 saves per game, Matt Murray (17-14-1) has been the top option in goal for the Pens this year. If head coach Mike Sullivan decides to give him a rest, however, the team could turn to Tristan Jarry (10-8-8 record, .919 save percentage, 2.44 goals against average).
Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby will both lead the offensive attack for the Penguins. Kessel (54 points) has put up 21 goals and 33 assists and has recorded multiple points in 14 different games this year. Crosby has 17 goals and 34 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in 30 games.
Carolina is 21-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 23 of its outings have gone under the total, while 22 have gone over and just two have pushed. As the road team, the Hurricanes are 11-15 SU so far.
The Hurricanes have converted on 18.8 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.4 percent of all penalties.
Carolina’s players have been called for penalties only 2.8 times per game this season, and 1.8 per game over their last five on the road. The teams been forced to defend opponent power plays just 6.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Scott Darling (23.9 saves per game) has been the main option in the net for Carolina. Darling has nine wins, 20 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit, while registering a .892 save percentage and 3.02 goals against average this year.
Sebastian Aho (16 goals, 21 assists) and Teuvo Teravainen (11 goals, 25 assists) are the top offensive options for Carolina and will pace the attack for the visiting Hurricanes.
Carolina Hurricanes at Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Carolina is 3-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Pittsburgh is 2-1 in shootouts.
- The total has gone under in three of Pittsburgh’s last five games.
- This game features two clubs that shoot the puck early and often. Carolina has registered the leagues fifth-most shots on goal (34.3) and Pittsburgh has attempted the second-most (34.6).
- Over Pittsburgh’s last ten outings, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-3 in those games).
- The Penguins this season have tallied the fifth-most hits per game (24.1), but that average has risen to 31.2 over their last five games as the home team.
