Two of the least-penalized teams in the NHL, the Arizona Coyotes and the Carolina Hurricanes take the ice at PNC Arena in an East-West showdown. Fox Sports Arizona will showcase the game, and the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 22.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Carolina Hurricanes Odds
Arizona (+155) is entering this one as the underdog to Carolina (-175) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -110 for the over and -110 for the under.
Carolina is 31-42 straight up (SU) and has recorded -17.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage hasn’t moved much from what the team managed during last year’s regular season (36-46). Of the team’s 73 regular season contests, 38 have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just two have pushed. This season, the team’s 16-21 SU at home.
The Hurricanes have converted on 19.6 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 24th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 77.6 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Hurricanes have been penalized just 2.8 times per game overall this season, 2.8 per game over their past five contests total, and 2.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 5.2 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 24.8 saves per game with a .904 save percentage, Cam Ward (19-19-4) has been the best option in goal for Carolina this season. If the Canes, however, decide to give him a breather, the team might turn to Scott Darling (12-27-27 record, .885 save percentage, 3.19 goals against average).
The Canes will continue looking for offensive production out of Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen. Aho (59 points) has tallied 26 goals and 33 assists and has recorded two or more points 14 times this year. Teravainen has 22 goals and 37 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 38 contests.
Arizona is 25-48 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 73 regular season outings, 38 of its games have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just one has pushed. As an away team, the Coyotes are 10-24 SU.
The Coyotes have converted on just 16.4 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom-five overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 15th overall and it’s successfully defended 80.5 percent of all penalties.
Arizona’s players have been called for penalties only 3.4 times per game in total this season, and 4.8 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays 12.2 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Antti Raanta (27.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Arizona. Raanta has 18 wins, 24 losses, and six OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .926 save percentage and 2.37 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Coyotes, the offense will be coordinated by Clayton Keller (20 goals, 35 assists) and Derek Stepan (13 goals, 36 assists).
Arizona Coyotes at Carolina Hurricanes Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
61.3 percent of Carolina’s wins have come by two or more goals (the team is 19-22 overall in games decided by at least two scores) while 40.0 percent of Arizona’s wins have come by two goals or more (10-28 overall in such games).
Penalties and power plays could prove to be critical in the outcome of this matchup. The Coyotes are 10-20 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 17-34 when they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Hurricanes are 16-25 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 25-35 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Arizona is 2-5 in games decided by a shootout this season while Carolina is 3-3 in shootouts.
The over has hit in each of Carolina’s last five games.
Carolina has averaged 13.0 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.8 giveaways per game (ranked 19th overall).
Arizona has averaged 5.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 7.3 giveaways per game (ranked seventh overall).
Arizona skaters have dished out the fifth-most hits in the league (24.3 per game), but that number’s down to just 21.6 hits over their last five away games.
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