Colorado Avalanche (41-12-5) at Carolina Hurricanes (39-12-5)
Thursday, March 10, PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
How to Watch
- 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Betting Lines
- Hurricanes -1.5
- O/U 6
- Avalanche: 28-29 ATS
- Hurricanes: 27-29 ATS
Recent Play (last 10 games):
- Avalanche:6-3-1, 3.7 goals per game, 3.3 goals against per game
- Hurricanes: 7-1-2, 3.0 goals per game, 2.5 goals against per game
Key Injuries
- Bowen Byram, D, COL: Out
- Tony DeAngelo, D, CAR: Out
- Brendan Smith, D, CAR: Out
- Frederik Andersen, G, CAR: Questionable
Matchup
This could very well be a Stanley Cup preview as the Avalance — the best team in hockey with 87 points this season — visit the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes on Thursday night.
The stop in Carolina is the final one of a three-game east-coast road trip for the Avalanche, who have found themselves on both ends of the competing spectrum.
Monday night against the Islanders saw Colorado flex its offensive power, breaking a 1-1 third-period tie with four goals in just 4:21 of play. But goaltender Pavel Francouz proceeded to yield three late goals to make what should have been a blowout an anxiety-riddled finish.
They followed it up by blowing a 3-0 second-period lead to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday — Colorado’s defense yielding 42 shots.
Carolina is rolling along as winners of seven of their last nine games, most recently a 3-2 win over the expansion Seattle Kraken.
The results are there, but the offense has not over the last five games with an average of just 2.2 goals per game during that stretch.
Luckily Carolina’s defense is the best in the league this season having yielded just 134 goals against in 56 games. It’s made the work for backup Antti Raanta all the easier as the backup is enjoying a serviceable year with a .911 SV% and 2.47 GAA in 16 outings.
Granted, they’ll have to try and keep up with an Avalanche team that possesses the second-best scoring offense in the entire league. Over their last 10 games, they’ve potted at least five goals five times.
For more sports betting tips, visit TailgateSports.com
Popular Player Props:
- Cale Makar, D, COL: Over 0.5 points (-215)
- Makar continues to carve his place as the NHL’s premier play-making defenseman with a ridiculous stretch since returning from the All-Star Break. Over his last 13 games, he has 19 points (2G, 17A), and shows no signs of slowing down.
- Carolina Hurricanes: Over 3.5 goals (+155)
- Yes, their offense has struggled, but this is a Hurricanes team that can play almost any style of hockey. That includes a counter-attacking brand that should find a bevy of scoring opportunities against an Avalanche defense that loves to be aggressive and pinch up in the play.
All odds courtesy of DraftKings. For the most recent odds, click here
