Two teams squaring off for the third time this year, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Penguins take the ice at PPG Paints Arena in a Metropolitan Division showdown. AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh will air the matchup, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 23.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh (-150) is currently the favorite over Carolina (+130) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -110 money on the over and -110 on the under.
Losing -6.2 units for moneyline bettors, Pittsburgh is 25-24 straight up (SU) overall this year. That early-season winning percentage is a regression from the 50-32 record that the team managed during last year’s regular season campaign. Through 49 regular season outings, 24 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 23 have gone under and just two have pushed. This season, the team’s 15-8 SU at home.
The Penguins currently have the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has found the net on 26.4 percent of their extra-man chances this season. 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 penalized 4.2 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five matchups home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 24.7 saves per game with a .903 save percentage, Matt Murray (17-14-1) has been the top goalkeeper for Pittsburgh this season. If head coach Mike Sullivan decides to rest him, however, Pittsburgh might go with Tristan Jarry (10-8-8 record, .919 save percentage, 2.44 goals against average).
The Pens will continue to look for leadership via Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby. Kessel (54 points) has tallied 21 goals and 33 assists and has recorded multiple points 14 times this year. Crosby has 17 goals and 34 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 30 games.
On the other bench, Carolina is 21-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 23 of its games have gone under the total, while 22 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Hurricanes are 11-15 SU as a road team this season.
The Hurricanes have converted on 18.8 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark 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 opponent power plays.
Carolina’s skaters have been penalized only 2.8 times per game in total this season, and 1.8 per game over their last five road outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 6.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Scott Darling (3.02 goals against average and .892 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Carolina. Darling is averaging 23.9 saves per game and has nine wins, 20 losses, and six OT losses to his credit.
Sebastian Aho (16 goals, 21 assists) and Teuvo Teravainen (11 goals, 25 assists) are the top offensive options for Carolina and will lead the attack for the visiting Hurricanes.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Pittsburgh is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Carolina is 3-3 in shootouts.
The total has gone under in three of Pittsburgh’s last five outings.
This game features two teams that fire the puck toward the goal a lot. Carolina has attempted the league’s fifth-most shots on goal (34.3) while Pittsburgh has attempted the second-most (34.6).
Eight of Pittsburgh’s last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 5-3 overall in those games.
The Penguins this season have recorded the fifth-most hits per game (24.1), but the club has averaged 31.2 over their last five games as the home team.
