NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Hurricanes vs. Bruins (Jan. 18)
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images. Pictured: Boston Bruins standout Brad Marchand.
Hurricanes vs. Bruins Odds
| Hurricanes Odds | +110 |
| Bruins Odds | -130 |
| Over/Under | 5.5 |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
Two red-hot squads are set to go head-to-head at TD Garden on Tuesday in a battle of Eastern Conference contenders.
Looking for their ninth win in 10 games, the Boston Bruins will face a tough test. The Carolina Hurricanes have been hovering near the top of the conference standings all season long and are a solid 7-2-1 in their last 10.
In their previous meeting this season, the Canes took the win with a 3-0 shutout in Raleigh.
Here's what to watch for on Tuesday night.
Hurricanes in Rhythm
The Hurricanes' visit to Boston is a one-off on the road, following a four-game homestand where Carolina was 2-1-1. The overtime loss came against Florida in a hard-fought game. The regulation loss was a 6-0 head scratcher against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Other than that strange blip, the Hurricanes have been playing well at both ends of the ice. Their .743 Points Percentage is second-best in the league. Their +39 Goal Differential is third-best. They've got the best Goals-Against Average and the best penalty kill in the NHL. And their 13-4-1 record on the road is even a little bit better than their 12-4-1 mark on home ice.
In net, Freddie Andersen continues to carry the load admirably. His personal record is now up to 19-6-0 for the year, and his 17.4 Goals Saved Above Expected ranks him fourth in the league, behind only Shesterkin, Bobrovsky and Quick.
With backup Antti Raanta listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury, expect Andersen to make another start against Boston on Tuesday. The Hurricanes are also getting defenseman Jaccob Slavin back from Covid protocol. So, as of Monday evening, their lineup appears to be basically healthy.
Bruins Surging in 2022
The Bruins had trouble staying consistent earlier in the season, but that problem has been solved since the calendar flipped to 2022. After two weeks off at the end of December, the team has gone 8-1-0 so far in January.
Last week, Brad Marchand's 10 points in four wins earned him the NHL's First Star of the week honors. Tuukka Rask is also now back in the fold on a bargain-basement salary.
After getting up to speed on an AHL professional tryout contract, Rask won his first start of the year last week, holding Philadelphia to two goals. He is set to guard the net against the Hurricanes on Tuesday.
The Bruins' recent hot streak has now propelled them comfortably into a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. And they could make some noise: their .657 Points Percentage is ninth-best in the league — and rising.
Looking under the hood, it's clear that Boston's success is coming from a very legitimate place. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Bruins are currently tops in the league in Expected Goal Percentage at 5-on-5 and second in High-Danger Corsi For percentage.
The only category where the Hurricanes have an advantage is in Corsi For at 5-on-5. They're second overall (55.65%), but the Bruins are right on their tails in third (54.01%).
The Bruins also have a few roster issues to note. Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk is in Covid protocol while John Moore is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Up front, Nick Foligno and Trent Frederic are on injured reserve.
Hurricanes vs. Bruins Pick
At -130, the oddsmakers at DraftKings have the Bruins pegged to prevail in this matchup 56.5% of the time. The Hurricanes certainly could come out on top again — particularly if Rask shows any rust against Carolina's potent offense, or if Boston's potent power play shoots blanks.
You're not going to get the Hurricanes as underdogs very often, either. An argument could definitely be made that the value lies with the visitors.
But the Bruins are red-hot right now, and their impressive underlying numbers that show their success is no fluke. That makes it tough to turn away from the home side.
Back the Bruins on the moneyline.
Pick: Bruins (-130); play down to -140
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