PNC Arena plays host to a Metro Division showdown as the Carolina Hurricanes take on the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins. AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh will showcase the matchup, which gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, December 29.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Carolina Hurricanes Odds
Carolina (-120) is currently the favorite over Pittsburgh (+100) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -120 for the over and +100 for the under.
Pittsburgh is 19-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. 20 of its matches have gone over the total, while 16 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Penguins team is 7-12 SU on the road.
Pittsburgh currently has the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 25.2 percent of its extra-man opportunities this year. Its penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 80.6 percent of all penalties.
The Pens, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box 4.4 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, and 3.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 25.9 saves per game with a .904 save percentage, Matt Murray (15-12-1) has been the best option in goal for Pittsburgh this season. If head coach Mike Sullivan decides to rest him, however, the team may turn to Tristan Jarry (5-6-2 record, .918 save percentage, 2.43 goals against average).
The visiting Penguins will be led by Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby. Kessel (41 points) is up to 16 goals and 25 assists, and has recorded multiple points in eight different games. Crosby has 14 goals and 21 assists to his nameand has notched at least one point in 22 games.
Over on the other bench, Carolina is 17-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 17 of its games have gone over the total, while another 17 have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 9-7 SU at home this season.
The Hurricanes have converted on just 16.0 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 25th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Carolina players have been whistled for penalties only 2.8 times per game in total this season, 3.2 per game over their last five games total, and 3.2 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 6.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Scott Darling has stopped 24.5 shots per game as the primary netminder in goal for the Hurricanes. Darling has eight wins, 16 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit and has registered a subpar .896 save percentage and 2.87 goals against average this season.
The home team offense will be led by Teuvo Teravainen (nine goals, 20 assists).
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Carolina Hurricanes Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
A majority (58.8 percent) of Carolina’s wins have come by two or more goals, and the team is 10-7 overall in such games. 7 of Pittsburgh’s 19 wins (36.8 percent) have been decided by two or more goals.
The Hurricanes are 5-3 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Penguins are 7-10 SU in games where 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.
The under has hit in three of Carolina’s last five games.
Carolina has allowed 3.1 goals per game overall this year, but has driven that figure down to 1.3 per contest over its three-game win streak.
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 17th).
Pittsburgh skaters have averaged 8.0 giveaways over its last five home games, its season average of 8.6 giveaways per game (the 10th-fewest in the league).
Pittsburgh skaters have given out the fourth-most hits in the league (23.8 per game), but that number’s down to just 19.4 hits over their last five away games.
