NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Hurricanes vs Penguins (Tuesday, March 26)
(Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) Pictured: Jake Guentzel.
Hurricanes vs. Penguins Odds
| Hurricanes Odds | -184 |
| Penguins Odds | +152 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 +112o / -140u |
Here's everything you need to know about the Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, March 26 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
Carolina is getting hot at the perfect time. The Hurricanes have gone 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and are one point away from both Atlantic Division supremacy and the President’s Trophy.
From the looks of it, it seems as if the Penguins will miss the playoffs. They’ve lost three games in a row, including a 5-4 overtime loss to the Avalanche.
Let's dive into our Hurricanes vs. Penguins prediction and pick.
The wealth is being spread in Carolina.
Sebastian Aho is on a major tear right now. He’s scored 12 points in his last six games, including a hat trick Friday. His new teammate, Jake Guentzel, is enjoying his time in Raleigh, with 12 points in his eight games with the Hurricanes. Along with that, Seth Jarvis is a goal-scoring machine, with eight goals in his last nine.
Throughout the month of March, Carolina has played exceptional 5-on-5 offense. It has ranked ninth in expected goals with a 53.21 xGF%, but defensively has struggled with a 3.36 xGA/60.
The Hurricanes' special teams have been on point in the last 10 games. They have scored on the power play at a 27% clip and are elite on the penalty kill with a 90.6% success rate.
With Frederik Andersen starting in net Sunday, I think we’ll see Pyotr Kochetkov tonight. Despite a poor showing against Washington, Kochetkov has put up a strong stretch of late. Before the loss, he had played to a .925 SV% in his 10 games; and for the season, he has a -1.6 goals saved above expected (GSAx), which is a drastic improvement from the first half of the season.
Sidney Crosby is truly an ageless wonder. The 36-year-old forward is fresh off a four-point night against Colorado on Sunday. Bryan Rust is also producing on a consistent basis, with six points in six games.
Beyond them, there isn’t much to write home about. Evgeni Malkin has only one goal in his last 10 games, and Erik Karlsson has been invisible offensively, not scoring a goal since Feb. 27.
Amid this horrid stretch, 5-on-5 hockey has suffered. The Penguins have played to a 22nd-ranked 48.59 xGF%, and a third-worst 3.85 xGA/60. Special teams are similarly a nightmare in the Steel City. In the past 10 games, Pittsburgh has scored at a terrible 7.7% rate on the power play, and the penalty kill is just as bad at 70%.
Goaltending is also a major weakness for the Penguins. Tristan Jarry is not having an ideal season, and in his last 10 games, he is playing to an .862 SV%.
Hurricanes vs. Penguins
Betting Pick & Prediction
What’s fascinating about this game is that -1.5 on the Hurricanes is at plus value. In the 13 games played this month for the Penguins, they’ve lost by more than one goal seven times. For Carolina, out of 12 games, it’s won six by more than one goal.
Given how poorly Pittsburgh has played and how dominant Carolina has been, a win by more than one goal isn’t out of the question. I have liked what I’ve seen in goal for the Hurricanes, despite the stinker against Washington.
Additionally, Carolina is dominant on the road, with a 21-11-3 record. The loss at Washington was the first road loss in six games, so I wouldn't be surprised if it gets back on the wagon.
I’m backing the Hurricanes to win big tonight.
Pick: Hurricanes -1.5 (+134)
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