The Colorado Avalanche (30-2-7) and Carolina Hurricanes (24-13-3) meet Saturday at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Avalanche vs. Hurricanes and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Hurricanes lead 1-0. Carolina won 5-4 in a shootout at Colorado on Oct. 23 as a slight underdog (+118) with the Over (6) cashing. Carolina has won 3 of the past 4 meetings while the Over has hit in 5 straight meetings in the series.
Most recently, the Avalanche posted a 6-1 win against the St. Louis Blues as heavy home favorites (-370) with the Over (6) hitting on New Year’s Eve. RW Valeri Nichushkin had a hat trick while C Nathan MacKinnon had 4 points (2 G, 2 A).
Colorado has won 9 in a row and is 11-0-1 in the past 12 games since a 6-3 regulation loss at the Islanders on Dec. 4. The Over has hit in 3 in a row and is 6-3-1 across the last 10 Avalanche games.
The Hurricanes suffered a 7-5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on New Year’s Day as moderate home favorites (-160) with the Over (6) easily cashing. Carolina had a 4-2 lead early in the second period but was outscored 5-1 in the final 35 minutes. C Sebastian Aho did his part, scoring 2 goals with 5 points, while LW Nikolaj Ehlers and RW Andrei Svechnikov each had a goal and 3 points.
Carolina is just 2-4-1 in its past 7 games while the Over is 5-2 in the span.
Avalanche at Hurricanes odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 1:45 pm. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Avalanche -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Hurricanes +100 (bet $100 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Avalanche -1.5 (+195) | Hurricanes +1.5 (-235)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -120 | U: +100)Avalanche at Hurricanes projected goalies
Scott Wedgewood (17-1-4, 2.13 GAA, .918 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Frederik Andersen (5-9-2, 3.38 GAA, .865 SV%)
Wedgewood has been on fire this season. Opening the season filling in for the injured Mackenzie Blackwood, Wedgewood has dominated the starts and shown no signs of slowing down.
Andersen and rookie Brandon Bussi are expected to hold down the fort for Carolina as Pyotr Kochetkov is likely out for the season due to a lower-body injury. Andersen was hammered for 14 goals on 73 shots in December, losing all 3 starts.
Avalanche at Hurricanes picks and predictionsPrediction
Avalanche 4, Hurricanes 3
AVALANCHE (-120) are a solid play as moderate favorites on the road, looking to exact a little revenge against the Hurricanes after the 5-4 shootout loss in Denver in October.
Colorado has won 9 in a row, outscoring the opposition 41-18 and covering the puck line as a favorite in 6 of those 9 outings.
The Hurricanes +1.5 (-235) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return. I like their chances to keep the game close, but that’s a little too expensive for a standalone play. If you were to toss Carolina into a multi-leg parlay or same-game parlay, it would be OK to back the Hurricanes here.
AVOID.
OVER 6 (-120) is the lean, but don’t get carried away.
Circle back around and make sure Andersen is starting. If he is confirmed to start, bump up your bet a little more on the Over, as Andersen has allowed at least 3 goals in each of his past 9 starts.
The Avs have hit the Over in each of the past 3 games, averaging 5.7 GPG while allowing 2.7 GPG.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow @danieledobish on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.