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Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

At this point, it’s just become the Hurricanes’ annual routine to establish themselves as top dogs in the East with high-pressure, system-driven hockey.

It’s translated to elite 5-on-5 metrics year over year under Rod Brind’Amour’s tight regime, which has earned them seven straight playoff trips and three total conference finals visits. Clearing that late-spring hump to winning a Stanley Cup is what’s eluding them; a January home date against a rebuilding Blackhawks team is little more than a box to check.

Carolina heads into Thursday having won three in a row and seven of their last nine. It is this season’s sole best 5-on-5 club according to MoneyPuck’s expected goals rate and shot attempt differential metrics. 

Blackhawks vs. Hurricanes odds, prediction

The only point of regression in the Hurricanes’ tireless trial-and-error to conquer hockey’s final boss stage is goaltending. Frederik Anderson’s time split with rookie Brandon Bussi has turned in a sub-average .882 team save percentage. It’s an armour chink that the properly equipped team could capitalize on, but the Blackhawks only generate 25 shots per game, No. 31 overall. 

No team yields fewer shots against than the Hurricanes at 24.1, so this game could see a heavy gravitational pull.

Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks skates on the ice during a game against the Vegas Golden Knights.Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks in action. NHLI via Getty Images

There are bleaker situations amongst the NHL’s common class, as Chicago at least builds around the exciting growth of Connor Bedard. That said, this is a team that’s notably weak at 5-on-5 scoring, ranking dead last in expected goals rate. 

Betting on the NHL?

Chicago’s vulnerable, young defensive corps has made some sloppy mistakes in its own end, and it struggles to defend high-danger areas. That’s a problem with Carolina’s Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho, Jackson Blake, and Andrei Svechnikov all ranking within the top 50 players in expected goals at 5-on-5. 

There’s only so much goaltending can compensate for, and facing a smothering Hurricanes operation that is peppering the goal with 32.4 shots a game, the Blackhawks could be paddling in deep water.

THE PLAY: Hurricanes -1.5 (-120, bet365)

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.