Sidney Crosby, Phil Kessel, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are set to face off against Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, and the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena in a Metro Division showdown. AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh will showcase the matchup, and the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 19.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Carolina Hurricanes Odds
The Hurricanes (-140) are favored over the Penguins (+120), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 7 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Carolina is 39-32 straight-up (SU) and has lost 4.7 units for moneyline bettors thus far. That early-season winning percentage is a welcome improvement over the 36-46 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Out of the team’s 71 regular season contests, 39 of them have gone under the total, while 30 have gone over and just two have pushed. The team is 19-15 SU at home this year.
The Hurricanes have converted on 17.2 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated sixth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.2 percent of all penalties.
With a .908 save percentage and 24.6 saves per game, Petr Mrazek (18-16-3) has been the best goalkeeper for the Canes this year. If the Canes, however, choose to give him a breather, Carolina might turn to Curtis McElhinney (18-10-10 record, .916 save percentage, 2.50 goals against average).
In the other locker room, Pittsburgh is 39-34 straight up (SU) and has lost 12.1 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 73 regular season outings, 34 of its games have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just six have pushed. As the away team, the Penguins are 18-18 SU.
The Penguins have converted on 25.2 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s good enough for sixth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 19th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Matt Murray (29.2 saves per game) has been the main option in goal for Pittsburgh. Murray has 24 wins, 17 losses, and four OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .916 save percentage and 2.83 goals against average this year.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Carolina Hurricanes Betting Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Both teams are 1-2 in games decided by shootout.
- The total has gone under in three of Pittsburgh’s last five outings.
- Two clubs that shoot the puck early and often, Pittsburgh has taken the league’s eighth-most shots on goal (32.8) and Carolina has attempted the second-most (34.7).
- Over Pittsburgh’s last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
- This game features two of the tougher defenses in the league. Pittsburgh skaters have dished out the league’s second-most hits per game (29.1) while the Canes have handed the seventh-most (24.8).
