Carolina Hurricanes vs Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction, Preview and Odds - 10/18/2024

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Friday, October 18, 2024

Venue:  PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

Where to Watch:  NHL Network

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Hurricanes -142, Penguins +120; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Hurricanes -140, Penguins +120; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Hurricanes -140, Penguins +120; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Carolina Hurricanes:  1-1-0 (7th place, Metropolitan Division)

Pittsburgh Penguins:  3-2-0 (2nd place, Metropolitan Division)

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Carolina Hurricanes:  1-1-0 last 2

Pittsburgh Penguins:  3-2-0 last 5

The Hurricanes are entering this game with 2 points, a 1-1-0 record overall, and they are 0-0-0 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the New Jersey Devils in their last game, winning that one at home 4-2. Sebastian Aho, Jackson Blake, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Seth Jarvis each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jordan Martinook, Martin Nečas, Dmitry Orlov, Jaccob Slavin, and Andrei Svechnikov each led the team in assists with 1 while Shayne Gostisbehere led the team in shots on net in that game with 6. Pyotr Kochetkov was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 26 shots with 24 saves and a .923 save percentage. Their offense has scored 5 goals this season averaging 2.5 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 6 goals against them allowing 3 goals per game.

The Penguins are entering this game with 6 points, a 3-2-0 record overall, and they are 1-1-0 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Buffalo Sabres in their last game, winning that one at home 6-5 in overtime. Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Drew O'Connor, Bryan Rust, Jesse Puljujärvi, and Rickard Rakell each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Evgeni Malkin led the team in assists with 3 while Evgeni Malkin led the team in shots on net in that game with 7. Tristan Jarry was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 5 shots with 2 saves and a .400 sv percentage before getting replaced by Joel Blomqvist who allowed 2 goals on 28 shots with 26 saves and a .928 save percentage. Their offense has scored 20 goals this season averaging 4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 21 goals against them allowing 4.2 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Hurricanes listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Hurricanes have a 1-1-0 record overall this season with only 2 games played so far. This will be their first road game of the season too, but they will have some momentum from getting their first win of the season in their last one. Their defense looked a lot better in that game on home ice and they were able to shut down a really good Devils team that has been hot to start the season. Meanwhile, the Penguins have looked good in their games this season with their 3-2-0 record overall, but they have struggled against some of the better teams they have faced. Their 2 losses came against playoff teams last season, losing to the Rangers and to the Leafs, while their 3 wins were beating up on weaker teams in the NHL, the Red Wings, the Sabres, and the Canadiens. They struggled to beat the Sabres in their last one too, needing OT to beat them at home and giving up 5 goals in the process. The Penguins still have some good players on their team this season, but the core players of their team are getting older and they will not be able to compete with a team like the Hurricanes who have been one of the better teams in the NHL over the last few years. The Penguins have also had a lot of defensive problems this year and that alone will lose them this game. The best way to place a bet here is on the Hurricanes to win this game. 

Hurricanes Penguins Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Friday, October 18, 2024 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Hurricanes 5 Penguins 2.

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Carolina Hurricanes: 31-16 (+6.7 units) on the moneyline off a win against a division rival. 72-31 (+15.9 units) on the moneyline against terrible defensive teams - allowing 3+ goals/game. 90-47 (+9.6 units) on the moneyline against poor defensive teams - opponents average 29.5+ shots on goal. 40-28 UNDER in a road game where the total is 6 or more. 60-34 UNDER after playing a home game. 81-54 UNDER against poor defensive teams - opponents average 29.5+ shots on goal.

Pittsburgh Penguins: 81-88 (-34.1 units) on the moneyline in all games. 47-37 (-8.5 units) on the moneyline in home games. 20-26 (-16.5 units) on the moneyline off a home win. 39-44 (-19.6 units) on the moneyline after playing a home game. 12-3 UNDER on Friday nights.

Carolina Hurricanes:  J. Fast (RW) Out - Neck. R. Stillman (D) Out - Lower-body.

Pittsburgh Penguins:  M. Nieto (LW) Out - Knee. B. Lizotte (C) Out - Concussion. V. Ponomarev (C) Out - Upper-body.

“That was solid from start to finish. It was really the way we needed to play, need to play and are capable of against a real good team. So that was good to see.” - Rod Brind’Amour after his team’s win against the Devils in their game on Tuesday.

“We tell Tristan to control what he can. He’s a good goalie. He’s a quality goalie.” - Mike Sullivan on Tristan Jarry after his team’s win against the Sabres in their last game. 

LW Andrei Svechnikov

C Sebastian Aho

RW Seth Jarvis

LD Jaccob Slavin

RD Brent Burns

G Frederik Andersen

LW Anthony Beauvillier

C Sidney Crosby

RW Bryan Rust

LD Matt Grzelcyk

RD Kris Letang

G Tristan Jarry

Points: J. Staal (1)

Goals: J. Staal (1)

Assists: W. Carrier (1)

GAA: P. Kochetkov (2.00)

Points: E. Malkin (11)

Goals: R. Rakell (3)

Assists: E. Malkin (9)

GAA: J. Blomqvist (2.86)

Coaches:

Carolina Hurricanes: Rod Brind'Amour (7th season)

Pittsburgh Penguins: Mike Sullivan (10th season)