In their second head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Penguins clash at PPG Paints Arena for a divisional tilt. The first puck will drop at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 4, and fans at home are able to view it live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh enters the game as the noticeable favorite with a -155 moneyline. The line for Carolina sits at +135, and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
The Penguins are 20-21 straight up (SU) and have lost 8.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. That early-season winning percentage is a regression from the 50-32 record that the team managed during last year’s regular season campaign. Of the team’s 41 games this season, 21 have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 12-7 SU at home this season.
Pittsburgh currently touts the best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 26.0 percent of their extra-man chances this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 14th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.5 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Pittsburgh has been penalized 4.3 times per game overall this season, and 2.8 per game over its last five outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 8.3 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 25.2 saves per game with a .903 save percentage, Matt Murray (16-13-1) has been the top option in goal for the Penguins this year. If they choose to give him the night off, however, the team may turn to Tristan Jarry (6-7-7 record, .922 save percentage, 2.36 goals against average).
The Pens will continue to lean on the leadership from Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin. Kessel (44 points) has produced 17 goals and 27 assists and has recorded two or more points nine times this year. Malkin has 14 goals and 24 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 25 games.
On the other side of the ice, Carolina is 18-21 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 19 of its games have gone under the total, while 18 have gone over and just two have pushed. Carolina’s 8-13 SU as a road team this season.
Carolina has converted on just 15.7 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 23rd overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.2 percent of all penalties.
Carolina’s skaters have been penalized only 2.8 times per game this season, and 2.0 per game over their last five contests. The team has had to kill penalties just 6.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Scott Darling (24.5 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Carolina. Darling owns an 8-17-6 record, while registering a .896 save percentage and 2.88 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Hurricanes, the offense will be coordinated by Teuvo Teravainen (10 goals, 20 assists) and Sebastian Aho (11 goals, 19 assists).
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
The under has hit in three of Pittsburgh’s last five outings.
This game features two clubs that have clobbered opponents’ goalies with shots. Carolina has registered the league’s fourth-most shots on goal (34.6) while Pittsburgh has attempted the fourth-most (34.6).
The Penguins are 8-10 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Hurricanes are 5-3 SU when they serve more minutes than the opposition.
Pittsburgh is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Carolina is 3-3 in shootouts.
Pittsburgh has forced 6.4 takeaways per game over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 6.2 takeaways per game (ranked 25th).
One of the best teams when it comes to pressuring their opponents, Carolina is ranked second in the league with 10.7 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher, as it has created 11.4 takeaways over its last 10 games and 15.8 takeaways over its last five.
