Two teams that split their season series (one game apiece) last year, the Colorado Avalanche and the Carolina Hurricanes clash at PNC Arena in an East-West matchup. Altitude Sports & Entertainment will broadcast the matchup, which gets going at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 20.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Carolina Hurricanes Odds
Carolina enters the game as the heavy favorite with a moneyline of -145. The line for Colorado sits at +125 and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -120 for the over and +100 for the under.
The Hurricanes are 4-3 straight up (SU) and have earned 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked 3rd in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 36-46 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Through seven regular season contests, four of its games have gone under the total, while three have gone over and none have pushed. The team’s 2-1 SU at home this season.
Carolina’s successfully found the net on 8.0 percent of its power play chances so far. That’s a significant drop-off from last season, when it was ranked 22nd in the league by scoring on 18.3 percent of its extra-man chances. Its penalty kill has fallen off noticeably year-over-year as it’s gone from successfully defending 77.5 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 24th overall last season) to 63.6 percent this year.
As a team, Carolina has been called for penalties 3.7 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 2.7, the lowest mark in the league. After serving an average of 6.2 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to kill penalties for 7.4 minutes per matchup this year.
With a .874 save percentage and 20.8 saves per game, Petr Mrazek (1-3-1) has been the most dependable goalkeeper for the Hurricanes this season. If they choose to rest him, however, the team might roll with the undefeated Curtis McElhinney (3-0 record, .900 save percentage, 2.64 goals against average).
The Canes will continue to look for leadership out of Sebastian Aho and Micheal Ferland. Aho (12 points) has tallied four goals and eight assists while Ferland has four goals and three assists to his name so far in the season’s early stages.
Colorado is 4-3 straight up (SU) and has netted 0.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through seven regular season contests, four of its games have gone over the total, while three have gone under the total and none have pushed. Colorado’s 2-2 SU as the away team this season.
Colorado’s scored on 25.9 percent of its power play chances this year after converting on 21.3 percent of its extra-man opportunities last season (which ranked them 10th in the league in that category). The team’s gone from successfully defending 83.3 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked third overall last season) to 88.2 percent in 2018-19.
Colorado’s skaters have been called for penalties 5.7 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.0, which was the eighth-highest mark in the league. After serving an average of 9.2 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has had to kill penalties for a noteworthy 12.6 minutes per matchup this year.
Semyon Varlamov (32.8 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Colorado. Varlamov owns a 3-2-2 record, and has registered a .948 save percentage and 1.77 goals against average this year.
Mikko Rantanen (two goals, 11 assists) has been one of the most vital offensive playmakers for the visiting Avalanche.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Carolina Hurricanes Free Picks
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Notes
After winning two of its three shootouts last year, Colorado is off to a 0-1 start in shootouts this season. Carolina was 3-3 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
The total has gone over in three of Carolina’s last five outings.
Colorado has managed 31.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Carolina is averaging 39.7 shots per game over its last five at home.
Colorado skaters registered 20.4 hits per game last season, while the Hurricanes logged 19.5 hits per contest.
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