While a few games on Thursday night’s NHL schedule will be excellent viewing, the marquee matchup is in Pennsylvania, where the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Metropolitan Divison-leading Carolina Hurricanes on a heater.
This is the third of four head-to-head matchups between the Penguins and Hurricanes, and Carolina has won both matchups by a 3-2 score.
We’ll review the stats, trends, and surprising Hurricanes vs Penguins odds and give you our betting predictions.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
The Carolina Hurricanes are listed as the moneyline underdog, with odds ranging from +100 to +107. Yes, you read that right: in the Hurricanes vs Penguins odds, Carolina is the underdog as the third-ranked team in the NHL standings. Carolina has a 20-12 straight-up moneyline record.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are the betting favorite, listed between -120 and -125. Pittsburgh has a 19-13 straight-up moneyline record.
The Penguins are listed at -1.5 on the puck line spread, with odds between +188 and +205.
The Hurricanes are listed at +1.5 on the spread, with odds from -245 to -260. Pittsburgh has a 15-17 record against the spread, while Carolina has a 13-19 record against the spread.
The total goals line is lower than usual for NHL games, primarily listed at 5.5 goals. The over is between -120 and -125, while the under is at +100. The Hurricanes have a 10-20 over/under record, while the Penguins have a 14-18 over/under record.
Matchup Information
- Game: Carolina Hurricanes (20-6-6) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (19-9-4)
- Where: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- When: Thursday, December 22nd, 2022, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Watch: NHLPP, ESPN+, Regional Broadcast Partners
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview
Carolina Hurricanes
What can the Carolina Hurricanes standings tell us? The Hurricanes are one of the top three teams in the NHL and lead the Metropolitan Division with a 20-6-6 record one. Carolina has won six games and ten of the last 11 games in a row.
The Hurricanes took the lead in the Metropolitan Division from the New Jersey Devils by beating the Devils 4-1 on Tuesday night.
Over the last five games, Carolina has hit the over of 5.5 once, while two of the five games ended in at least a 1.5-goal spread.
Hurricanes’ Averaging Numbers
The Hurricanes are averaging 1.8 goals in the last five games. The under is 8-0 in Carolina’s last eight games against the Eastern Conference and 5-0 against the Metropolitan division.
Martine Necas leads the Hurricanes in NHL player stats with 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists). Sebastian Aho is listed as day-to-day on the NHL injury report.
The Hurricanes rank 24th in the NHL, averaging 2.9 goals per game on 34.3 shots while giving up 2.6 goals (5th) on 26.3 shots per game.
Hurricanes’ Powerplay
Carolina’s powerplay is the team’s weak point, ranked 27th overall and converting at 17.6%. The penalty kill is ranked 14th and is operating at 80.2% efficiency.
Pyotr Kochetkov has been an incredible surprise for the Hurricanes this season, posting a 10-1-4 record, a 1.94 goals-against average, and a .928 SV%. We expect Kochetkov to start in this massive game with Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins enter Thursday’s main event with a 19-9-4 record, ranked third in the Metropolitan Division.
Pittsburgh has won four of the last five games and eight of the last ten. One of Pittsburgh’s last five games has hit the over of 5.5, while only two games have ended in at least a 1.5 goal spread.
Penguins’ Betting Trend
Betting trends to consider along with the Hurricanes vs Penguins odds: the under is 7-0-2 in Pittsburgh’s last nine games against Eastern Conference competition, while the under is 7-2-1 in the last ten head-to-head matchup between these two teams.
The familiar face of future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer Sidney Crosby leads the Pittsburgh Penguins statistics with 42 points (18 goals, 24 assists).
Pittsburgh is ranked seventh in the NHL, averaging 3.4 goals per game on 32.9 shots while giving up 2.8 goals (12th) on 33.4 shots.
Penguins’ Powerplay
The Penguins’ powerplay is ranked 16th in the league, converting at 22.9%, while the penalty kill is among the NHL’s best, ranked third and operating at 84.0% efficiency.
Tristan Jarry has started three of the last four games, but we expect him to start his second game in a row. Jarry has a 15-3-3 record, a 2.60 goals-against average, and a .922 save percentage.
If Pittsburgh goes away from its goaltending rotation and starts Casey DeSmith, he has a 4-6-1 record, a 2.83 goals-against average, and a .914 save percentage.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview
Before we make our predictions from the surprising Hurricanes vs Penguins odds, we need to remind you of the recent head-to-head meetings between these NHL teams and a few essential betting trends.
Carolina has won both meetings this season by a 3-2 score. The Hurricanes are 5-1 in the last six meetings, and the favorite is 15-6 in the last 21.
The favorite might have an outstanding record over the past few years, but we’re not picking the Pittsburgh Penguins.
We will take the third-ranked team in the league on a six-game winning streak with an excellent goaltender as the underdog on the moneyline. Give us Carolina +100 to +107.
Whether or not Pittsburgh’s recent win over the New York Rangers and ending the Rangers’ winning streak is present in the mind of odds makers and bettors is something we can only speculate on.
However, when you review all the stats and trends we’ve presented, we’re not sure how Carolina is the underdog on the Hurricanes vs Penguins odds, but we’ll take the extra value from a Hurricanes win.
The second of our NHL picks is to take the under. The first two games ended with five goals scored, and every betting trend – head-to-head or recent history – favors taking the under.
The final pick we can take or leave if we’re only making one pick is to take the Hurricanes to cover the spread of +1.5. We’re taking Carolina to win on the moneyline, but even if the Penguins snap the Hurricanes’ winning streak, it will be in a one-goal game.
NHL Picks: Hurricanes (+100)
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