There is a 13-game NHL slate Thursday, and with plenty of good games to sift through, a bet on a side stands out in a marquee matchup between the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes. Here is the Avalanche-Hurricanes prediction, odds and pick.
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NHL Odds: Avalanche-Hurricanes Odds
Avalanche: +105 (+1.5, -230)
Hurricanes: -125 (-1.5, +195)
Over: 6 (-120)
Under: 6 (+100)
Injuries Starting to Mount for Colorado
The reigning Stanley Cup champions have not had the strongest start to the season and are coming off a 3-2 home loss to the St. Louis Blues. At 8-5-1, the Avalanche’s biggest problem has been that top players are missing almost every night.
Captain Gabriel Landeskog is on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) after having knee surgery during the offseason. Forward Valeri Nichushkin is on IR after having ankle surgery a week ago, defenseman Samuel Girard is day to day with a lower-body injury, and defenseman Bowen Byram is week to week with a lower-body injury. Those are only the “big” names who will miss this game, as Darren Helm, Kurtis MacDermid and Shane Bowers also are expected to be out.
Due to the injuries, the Avalanche offense has failed to produce. At 5v5, they rank 20th in the NHL in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60), and their defense is due for some regression.
At 5v5, Colorado ranks first in goals against per 60 minutes (GA/60) but 13th in xGA/60. Goalie Alexandar Georgiev, who is projected to start Thursday, has been tremendous this season since his acquisition from the New York Rangers, but this could be a good spot to sell high. Over his past three games against the Carolina Hurricanes, Georgiev is 1-2-0 with an .890 SV% and 4.38 GAA.
Antti Raanta Stepping in for Hurricanes
Goalie Antti Raanta is slated to start for Carolina in place of Frederik Andersen, who is on IR with a lower-body injury and not expected to return any time soon.
Andersen missed the playoffs last season with an injury, and Raanta did an incredible job filling in. Across 13 playoff starts, the backup posted a .922 SV% and 2.26 GAA. The strong play has continued into this season.
In six starts, Raanta is 3-2-1 with a .911 SV% and 2.47 GAA. In his past six games against the Avalanche, Raanta boasts a .945 SV% and 2.04 GAA.
Additionally, Raanta plays behind one of the best two-way teams in hockey. At 5v5 this season, Carolina ranks sixth in the NHL in xGF/60 and second in xGA/60.
Final Avalanche-Hurricanes Prediction & Pick
These teams squared off last week and Colorado won 4-1 at home. Carolina now gets a shot at redemption on its home ice.
At 5v5, Carolina ranks higher than Colorado in both xGF/60 and xGA/60. Raanta should be able to keep pace with Georgiev, especially considering each goalie’s history against the opposite team.
The home team has won each of the past three matchups between these two Stanley Cup contenders, a trend that should continue Thursday night.
Final Avalanche-Hurricanes Pick: Hurricanes ML (-125, DraftKings)
