Pittsburgh Penguins vs Carolina Hurricanes Picks and Predictions October 18th 2024

Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Hurricanes versus the Penguins? The puck drops at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on NHLN. The game will be played at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. The Hurricanes are favored by -1.5 in this Metropolitan division showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 6.5 goals.

Carolina vs. Pittsburgh Key Information

• Teams: Hurricanes at Penguins
• Where: PPG Paints Arena Pittsburgh
• Date: Friday, October 18th
• Betting Odds CAR -147 | PIT +125 O/U 6.5

The Hurricanes Can Win If…

Carolina evened their record at 1-1-0 with a 4-2 win over the Devils. The Hurricanes covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 6 goals was a push.

After falling behind 1-0 early in the second period, the Hurricanes responded with four different players scoring. Sebastian Aho’s goal at 18:24 in the third period sealed the win.

Carolina’s offense netted four goals, with Sebastian Aho scoring his first of the season on an empty net. Jackson Blake also found the net for the first time this year. Shayne Gostisbehere and Seth Jarvis added to the tally, with Jarvis now having two goals this season.

The Hurricanes took 31 shots on goal but were scoreless in the first period. They managed two goals in the second, added another in the third, and finished with Aho’s empty-netter. Carolina recorded 23 giveaways in the game.

Carolina’s defense gave up the first goal just 1:16 into the second period and another late in the third, but they held on for a 4-2 win. Pyotr Kochetkov made 24 saves with a 92.3% save percentage, while the defense added 9 takeaways and 19 hits.

• Across Carolina’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 1-2. In these contests, the team went just 1-2 against the spread, while going 1-1-1 on the over-under.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Carolina has a record of 4-6. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 3-7 to go along with an over-under mark of 5-4-1.

The Penguins Can Win If…

With a 6-5 overtime win against the Sabres, the Penguins moved to 3-2-0 this season. Pittsburgh, favored by -1.5 goals, didn’t cover the puck line, and the total of 11 goals easily surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5 goals.

After trailing 3-1 in the first period, the Penguins fought back, with six different players contributing goals. Sidney Crosby netted the game-winner at 18:22 in overtime.

Pittsburgh fired 43 shots on goal in their 6-5 overtime win against Buffalo. The Penguins’ offense was led by Sidney Crosby, who scored his first goal of the season on a power play in overtime. Evgeni Malkin added his second goal of the year, while Bryan Rust netted his second as well. Rickard Rakell, with 3:26 left in the game, tied it up with his third goal of the season.

Evgeni Malkin also picked up his 10th assist on Crosby’s game-winner. Drew O’Connor scored his second goal of the season, and Jesse Puljujärvi found the net for the first time this year. Pittsburgh’s offense had 21 giveaways in the game.

Pittsburgh’s defense struggled early, allowing the first three goals of the game, including two within the first 3:08 of the opening period. After taking a 4-3 lead in the 3rd, they gave up two more goals, at the 10:16 and 10:56 marks. Joel Blomqvist made 26 saves with a 92.9% save percentage, while the defense added 11 takeaways and 16 hits.

• The Penguins have posted a 2-1 record in their previous three games. This includes going 1-2 vs. the puck line and posting an over-under mark of 2-1.
• The Penguins have gone 5-5 over their last ten regular season games. This includes going 4-6 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 6-2-2.

The Lean

For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Hurricanes to secure a victory over the Penguins on the road. With the moneyline currently set at -147, I’m locking in my bet on the Hurricanes straight-up.

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.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6.5 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

Hurricanes Open Long Road Trip Against Productive Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes meet Friday night in Pittsburgh, with both teams looking to build on their early-season performances. The Penguins are off to a strong offensive start, while the Hurricanes are embarking on their annual long road trip.

Penguins’ Productive Start

The Penguins have been lighting up the scoreboard, tallying six goals in each of their three wins so far. Their latest victory came in a thrilling 6-5 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres, where Sidney Crosby netted the game-winner to secure Pittsburgh’s first consecutive wins of the season.

A major highlight of the Penguins’ season came when Evgeni Malkin hit the 500-goal milestone, joining elite company with Crosby and Alex Ovechkin as the only active players to reach that mark. Malkin was touched by the support he’s received from Pittsburgh fans throughout his career.

Meanwhile, Crosby hit another milestone with his first goal of the season, leaving him just seven goals shy of 600 for his career. Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan spoke highly of the connection between Crosby and Malkin: “When you accomplish what they’ve accomplished… winning Stanley Cups has a way of galvanizing relationships.”

Hurricanes Embark on Road Trip

The Hurricanes begin their annual six-game road trip, forced to hit the road due to the North Carolina State Fair occupying their home arena. After splitting their two home games to start the season, Carolina’s opener against Tampa Bay was postponed due to Hurricane Milton, making the Penguins their first road opponent.

Carolina is coming off a strong 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils, where they scored all four goals in the final 30 minutes. Shayne Gostisbehere contributed with a goal in his second stint with the Hurricanes, and rookie Jackson Blake netted his first career goal. Seth Jarvis also got on the board after signing a big eight-year extension in the offseason.

Head coach Rod Brind’Amour emphasized the need for consistency, particularly on special teams. The Hurricanes have given up three power-play goals in just two games, an area they must improve as they start their road stretch.

Key Matchups and Players to Watch

Penguins’ Offense vs. Hurricanes’ Defense:

Pittsburgh’s top players, including Crosby and Malkin, are producing at a high level early in the season. The Penguins will look to continue their offensive surge against Carolina’s structured defense, which has shown vulnerabilities on special teams.

Hurricanes’ Special Teams:

Carolina’s penalty kill has been a weak point so far, and they will need to tighten up to contain the Penguins’ power play. At the same time, improving their own execution on the power play will be crucial for the Hurricanes to keep pace with Pittsburgh.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin:

Both Crosby and Malkin are motivated by their respective milestones. Crosby is nearing 600 goals, while Malkin is fresh off reaching the 500-goal mark, setting up an exciting battle against Carolina’s defense.

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Game Outlook

The Penguins enter this game with momentum, coming off back-to-back wins fueled by strong performances from their veteran stars. For the Hurricanes, this game marks the start of a challenging road trip, and they’ll need to focus on consistency and cleaning up their special teams to come out on top. Pittsburgh, playing its last home game before heading out on their own road trip, will benefit from the home crowd’s energy.

Prediction

With their offensive firepower and home-ice advantage, the Penguins hold a slight edge. However, if the Hurricanes can tighten up their special teams, this could be a tightly contested game.

Penguins 4, Hurricanes 3