Two teams meeting for the zeroth time this season, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Colorado Avalanche take the ice at the Pepsi Center for an East-West tilt. Altitude Sports & Entertainment will broadcast the action, which gets underway at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 2.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Colorado Avalanche Odds
With a -120 moneyline, Carolina enters the contest as the favorite. The line for Colorado sits at +100 and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-115 for the over, -105 for the under).
Earning moneyline bettors 2.5 units, the Avalanche are 6-5 straight up (SU) in the 2017-18 season. That win percentage, ranked third in the Central Division so far in this young season, is a huge turnaround from what the team managed during last year’s regular season (22-60). Through 11 regular season outings, six of its games have gone over the total, while five have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team is 4-1 SU at home.
Colorado’s converted on 16.7 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.4 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Colorado has been whistled for penalties 4.9 times per game this season, a number that’s regressed some from last year’s 4.0 penalties per game the team surrendered. After serving an average of 9.4 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has had to stave off opponent power plays for 12.0 minutes per outing this year.
Sporting a .904 save percentage and 28.1 saves per game, Semyon Varlamov (4-3) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Avalanche this season. If they choose to give him the evening off, however, Colorado may turn to Jonathan Bernier (2-2-2 record, .906 save percentage, 3.03 goals against average).
Mikko Rantanen and Tyson Barrie will both lead the offensive attack for the Avalanche. Rantanen (10 points) is up to three goals and seven assists and has shown up in the points column on six occasions this year. Barrie has two goals and seven assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in seven contests.
Carolina is 4-6 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of six of its games have gone over the total, while four have gone under and none have pushed. As the visiting team so far, Carolina is 3-2 SU.
Carolina has converted on 17.1 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 16th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Carolina’s skaters have been penalized only 2.3 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 2.7, which was the best mark in the league. After serving an average of 5.8 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s had to kill penalties for 4.6 minutes per matchup this season.
Scott Darling (23.9 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Carolina. Darling owns a 3-5-2 record, and has registered a .897 save percentage and 2.70 goals against average this year.
Jeff Skinner (seven goals, two assists) and Justin Williams (one goal, seven assists) have been standout playmakers for Carolina and will lead the attack for the visiting Hurricanes.
Carolina Hurricanes at Colorado Avalanche Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Under
Betting Trends:
- After posting a 3-6 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Carolina is off to a 1-1 start in shootouts this season. Colorado went 1-2 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
- The over has hit in four of Colorado’s last five outings.
