Carolina Hurricanes vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Predictions November 7th 2024

Carolina Hurricanes vs Pittsburgh Penguins November 7th 2024

The Penguins and Hurricanes are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Hurricanes will host the game at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC. This Metropolitan division matchup has an over/under of 6.5 goals, and the Hurricanes are favored by -1.5 at home vs. the Penguins.

Pittsburgh vs. Carolina Key Information

The Penguins improved to 5-7-2 with a 3-1 road win over the Canadiens. Pittsburgh covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 4 goals fell short of the pre-game line of 6.5.

Sidney Crosby led the way with two goals, including one on the power play. Blake Lizotte added an empty-netter to seal the victory. The Penguins kept Montreal scoreless until the third period.

Sidney Crosby led the way for the Penguins with two goals in their 3-1 victory over the Canadiens. He opened the scoring at 4:03 in the first period and added his fifth goal of the season on a power play at 1:20 in the second. Blake Lizotte chipped in with an empty-netter, his second goal of the season, with just 45 seconds left in the game.

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The Penguins fired 24 shots on goal but were plagued by 14 giveaways. Lars Eller picked up his third assist on Lizotte’s empty-net goal, while Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson added assists on Crosby’s second goal, giving them 3 and 7 assists on the season, respectively.

Defensively, the Penguins will look to build on their previous performance, where they allowed just one goal to the Canadiens. Alex Nedeljkovic made 25 saves, finishing with a 96.2% save percentage. Pittsburgh’s defense also contributed 5 takeaways and 19 hits.

Carolina improved to 9-2-0 with a 4-2 win over the Capitals. The Hurricanes covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites. The total for the game was set at 6 goals, and the combined score reached exactly that number.

The Hurricanes jumped out to a 1-0 lead, but the Capitals responded with two goals in the first period. Carolina then scored three unanswered goals to secure the win, including an empty-netter with 9 seconds left in the game.

Carolina’s offense had 45 shots on goal in their 4-2 win over Washington, with Dmitry Orlov scoring twice on his three shots. Orlov now has three goals this season. Martin Necas, who also had three shots on goal, netted his sixth goal of the year and added two assists, bringing his total to 12 assists this season.

Andrei Svechnikov sealed the game with an empty-net goal, his sixth of the season. The Hurricanes scored once in the first period, twice in the second, and added their final goal with just 9 seconds left in the third. Carolina had 14 giveaways in the game.

After giving up two late goals in the first period, Carolina’s defense tightened up, shutting out Washington in the second and third periods. Pyotr Kochetkov finished with 19 saves and a 90.5% save percentage, while the Hurricanes’ defense recorded 7 takeaways and 10 hits.

If you’re considering a direct moneyline bet, the Hurricanes is the choice to make. However, with a payout of -264, you might want to use this bet as a building block for a parlay.

When it comes to my suggested pick for the puck line, I’d advise taking the Penguins to cover. Even in the event of a Hurricanes victory, this matchup is likely to remain closely contested, and the Penguins should cover the puck line.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 6.5 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

Hurricanes Aim to Extend Hot Streak Against Struggling Penguins

The Carolina Hurricanes look to keep their momentum going and secure an eighth straight win as they host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night in Raleigh, N.C. Carolina has shown a knack for finding different ways to win, even as the Penguins grapple with consistency.

Hurricanes: Strong Start and Late-Game Resilience

Carolina’s sizzling 9-2-0 start, its second-best in franchise history, continued Tuesday night with a thrilling 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Scoring two goals in the final 31 seconds to secure the victory highlighted the Hurricanes’ ability to stay resilient.

“Good teams find a way to win,” said Hurricanes forward Martin Necas, who notched the go-ahead goal.

Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour acknowledged that the game against the Flyers wasn’t flawless, but praised the team’s persistence.

“Sometimes you’ve got to win that way,” Brind’Amour said. “You’re not going to be (flowing) every night. It’s hard in this league every night to look good.”

Necas, riding a seven-game point streak, has been a key player, demonstrating excellent chemistry with his teammates. He currently matches the longest streak of his career, highlighting his consistency and confidence.

“It feels better than what I was used to,” Necas said. “I was always confident in myself. Building some chemistry.”

Veteran players also contributed on Tuesday, with Jordan Martinook scoring his first goal of the season and defenseman Brent Burns recording two assists. Brind’Amour has noted the team’s blend of younger talents and experienced players, such as Burns, has brought depth and reliability.

Penguins: Searching for a Breakthrough

While Carolina rides a wave of early-season success, the Penguins (5-4-1) have struggled to string together consistent performances. A 4-3 shootout loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday marked the first game of Pittsburgh’s current three-game road trip, extending their road struggles to 0-3-2 in their last five away games.

“We had opportunities to break it open and we couldn’t,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said of Tuesday’s game.

Pittsburgh’s frustrations are clear, with the team showing flashes of potential but failing to capitalize on key moments. Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, a former Carolina Hurricane, has started the last three games for Pittsburgh and hopes to lead the team to a win in a familiar setting.

“We’ve got two more games on this road trip to come away with a positive trip,” Nedeljkovic said.

Key Matchups and Previous Encounters

This matchup marks the second time the Hurricanes and Penguins will face off this season, with Carolina winning the first game 4-1 in Pittsburgh on Oct. 18. Necas played a pivotal role in that game with a goal and an assist. Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen, who made 25 saves in that game, is sidelined with an injury, so the Hurricanes will likely turn to another netminder for this rematch.

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Pittsburgh has had some success in divisional play, notably winning both previous matchups against the Montreal Canadiens, but the Penguins will need more scoring depth and improved road performance to stop the Hurricanes’ momentum.

Final Thoughts

With the Hurricanes’ ability to find ways to win and their lineup firing on all cylinders, they’ll aim to keep their win streak alive against a Pittsburgh squad seeking a boost to avoid a disappointing road trip. For the Penguins, Thursday presents an opportunity to regroup and make a statement, but they’ll need to find ways to finish scoring chances and overcome a well-rounded Carolina team to do so.