Carolina vs. Pittsburgh: NHL Match Prediction
Carolina Hurricanes
Pittsburgh PenguinsOne of the Eastern Conference leaders continues their home series on November 8 against Pittsburgh. Carolina is on a roll with a seven-game winning streak. The Penguins, however, have had a weak start to the new season and are near the bottom of the standings. Since early October, Mike Sullivan's team has won only one game in regulation and has the worst defense. Can the visitors hold their ground in Raleigh? Or will the Hurricanes secure another two points? Find the answers in our preview of the matchup between these teams.
Match announcement
Carolina Hurricanes
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Carolina quickly found their rhythm and started accumulating points throughout October. The team from Raleigh is second in the conference but effectively leads the East. Rod Brind'Amour's squad has secured 18 points in 11 games, losing only twice this fall. The hosts are currently on a seven-game winning streak and show no signs of slowing down. After a long road trip, the Hurricanes returned home and remain flawless. In November, Jordan Staal's team defeated Boston (8-2), Washington (4-2), and Philadelphia (6-4), showcasing excellent offensive play. The game against the Flyers wasn't the easiest for the Hurricanes. They trailed early in the first period but scored three goals by the midpoint and secured a favorable outcome.
The hosts, as mentioned earlier, are capitalizing on their chances in recent games. Carolina has scored at least three goals in six consecutive matches, averaging 4.09 goals per game. Martin Necas remains the Canes' leader on the offensive end. The Czech forward has tallied 20 points (7 goals, 13 assists) and ranks sixth among the league's top scorers.
Pyotr Kochetkov is getting more playing time and has frequently started recently. The Russian has saved only 87.82% of shots on his goal and hasn't recorded a shutout, yet the Hurricanes' coach continues to trust him.
Suspensions and Injuries
Jesper Fast and Frederik Andersen will not play against Pittsburgh on Friday.
Interesting Betting Trends
- Carolina averages over 35 shots per game
The hosts take a significant number of shots in each match, converting 11.4% of their chances.
- The Hurricanes win 48.7% of faceoffs in the fall
The hosts strive to outperform their opponents in all aspects, including faceoffs.
Pittsburgh Penguins
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Pittsburgh is struggling to climb out of the Eastern Conference basement, gradually settling among the conference's underdogs. The Pennsylvania team has managed only 12 points in 14 starts, having played more games than their competitors, and is likely to drop below their current 12th place. Sidney Crosby and his teammates had a decent start in October, but now the Penguins have only two wins in their last nine games. They finally broke their losing streak in the last home series. After a setback against Minnesota, they narrowly defeated Anaheim (2-1, OT) and Montreal (3-1). At the start of their road trip, the Penguins had a great chance to earn points in New York but squandered a two-goal lead and lost to the Islanders (4-3, OT).
The main issue for the visitors is their weak defense. Pittsburgh concedes an average of 3.86 goals per game, making them the worst team in the East in this regard. Alex Nedeljkovic is still not fully fit after a preseason injury, and Tristan Jarry has lost his spot in the Penguins' starting lineup.
The Penguins' offense still relies heavily on the franchise veterans. Sidney Crosby has contributed (6+9), while Evgeni Malkin surpassed the captain in the last game, participating in 16 of the Penguins' goals (4+12). Mike Sullivan's team clearly lacks young talent. It's hard to imagine what will happen if the leaders get injured.
Suspensions and Injuries
Matt Nieto and Bryan Rust will not be available for their team in Raleigh.
Interesting Betting Trends
- Pittsburgh takes 31 shots on goal per game
The visitors apply high pressure on the opponents' net and frequently shoot on goal.
- Opponents of the Penguins deliver 20 hits against the visitors
All league teams know that Mike Sullivan's squad cannot be given much free space.
Trends
Bet 1st Period: Total Under 1.5 Goals
In seven of the last eight games involving the "Pitts", the first period was low-scoring
2.10Bet 2nd Period: "Carolina" to Score
The hosts have scored in the second period for six consecutive games
1.30Tip and bets
We believe Carolina's winning streak will continue this Friday. The hosts are close to leading the Eastern Conference standings and are showing strong performance in every match. On the other side is Pittsburgh, which is in dire need of a complete overhaul. The team lacks young talent, and relying solely on Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin is no longer enough to win. Mike Sullivan has yet to solve the defensive issues, so it's unlikely the visitors can earn points in Raleigh. In our view, the Hurricanes will secure a victory in regulation time.
Our prediction - Carolina win at 1.63
Bet on Individual Total
Recently, the teams faced off in Pennsylvania, where the Penguins managed to score only once against Carolina. The Hurricanes concede just 2.45 goals per game on average, making it tough for the Penguins to score much. We don't expect Pittsburgh to set the pace or dominate the opponent on the road. We'll place a bet on the individual total of the second team being under.
Bet on Total
Recent matches between these opponents have been tight and not very high-scoring. Two weeks ago, only five goals were scored in this matchup. These teams haven't scored more than six goals combined in 11 games. It's unlikely that much will change this time. We'll take a bet on the total being under.
Prediction - total under 6.5 goals at 1.60
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