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- What: Colorado Avalanche vs. Carolina Hurricanes
- Date: Thursday, February 8, 2024
- Location: PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: ALT, BSSO, ESPN+
Two of the top teams in the NHL face off tonight in North Carolina when the 2022 Stanley Cup-winning Colorado Avalanche take to the road to play the Carolina Hurricanes, who last raised the most prized trophy in hockey in 2006. With more than half of the 2024 NHL season behind us, the Avalanche are in third place in the Western Conference, while the Hurricanes hold down the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Avalanche sport a 32-15-4 record on the season. The team’s 68 points ties them with the Dallas Stars for most points in the Central Division. Colorado is 12-10-4 on the road this year, and they are 6-3-1 in their past 10 outings. The club is on a two-game road losing skid heading into tonight’s matchup.
The Hurricanes are 28-16-5 on the year, which puts them four points behind the New York Rangers for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. Carolina has a 15-6-4 home record, and they are also 6-3-1 in their 10 most recent games. Carolina saw a three-game winning streak end on Tuesday when they lost to the Vancouver Canucks at home.
Before we look at the betting breakdown for tonight’s NHL matchup between the Colorado Avalanche and the Carolina Hurricanes, check out our betting picks to win the 2024 Stanley Cup and our tips for betting on the NHL.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Carolina Hurricanes betting picks – February 8, 2024
 | Puck Line | Money Line | Total |
| Colorado Avalanche | +1.5 (-205) | +125 | Ov 6.5 (+102) |
| Carolina Hurricanes | -1.5 (+175) | -140 | Un 6.5 (-118) |
Colorado Avalanche betting breakdown
The Colorado Avalanche are once again playing well without Gabriel Landeskog, who is missing for a second straight season due to knee surgery. Colorado has racked up the most goals in the NHL (194), while allowing 160 goals. Colorado’s plus-34 goal differential is the third-highest total in the NHL’s Western Conference this season.
Nathan MacKinnon had a career year last season with 111 points. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NHL entry draft, MacKinnon is on pace to improve on those numbers in 2024. The 28-year-old has 32 goals and 53 assists this year for a total of 85 points. He leads the team in all three categories and is tied for first in the league in points and assists. Mikko Rantanen is second on the team in scoring with 67 points.
Colorado’s starting goaltender, Alexandar Georgiev, is 27-11-3 on the season with a 2.88 goals against average and a .899 save percentage.
The Avalanche score the second most goals per game (3.76), and rank 18th in fewest goals allowed per game (3.12). The club is ninth in power play percentage (24.9 percent) and ninth in penalty kill (82.6 percent). Colorado ranks ninth in shots per game (32.1) and surrenders the eighth-fewest shots per game (29.2).
Carolina Hurricanes betting breakdown
The Carolina Hurricanes have been without starting goaltender Frederik Andersen for most of the season. The 34-year-old had a 4-1 record with a 2.87 goals against average and .894 save percentage before he left the team in early November to deal with blood clotting issues. Andersen posted a 21-11-1 record with a 2.48 GAA and a .903 SV % last season. He has been cleared for limited on-ice activities, but there is no timetable for his return to game duty. Andersen’s return is something Carolina needs as the club has the second-worst save percentage in the league at .887 despite allowing the fewest shots on goal per game in the NHL at 24.9.
Pyotr Kochetkov was playing well for the ‘Canes (2.58 GAA, .900 SV %), but he left the lineup in early January with a concussion. Kochetkov returned to action on Tuesday and gave up three goals on 19 shots. Antti Raanta has started most of the Hurricanes past 10 games. He has a 3.04 goals against average and a .870 save percentage.
Sebastian Aho leads the team in scoring with 55 points, 18 goals, and 37 assists. The 26-year-old is the bright spot on the Hurricanes, and he is projected to set a career-high in points and assists this season. Seth Jarvis is second on the team in points with 39. Off-season signing Michael Bunting is the third-highest scorer on the club with 31 points.
Carolina is averaging 3.35 goals per game (10th in the NHL) this year while giving up 2.94. The Hurricanes have the second-best power play in the league at 28.2 percent and the fifth-best penalty kill (83.2 percent). The club fires the seventh most shots on net, averaging 33.1 per game.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Carolina Hurricanes betting trends
These teams have played five times since 2022, and the Avalanche have wins in the past four outings. Colorado scored 20 goals in those five games, and Carolina netted 13. Their most recent matchup came in October, with the Avalanche winning 6-4.
Colorado has three upset wins this season in games where they have been the betting underdog. The club has averaged 4.2 goals per game in its past 10 outings and has given up an average of 2.8.
Carolina has been the betting favorite 44 times in 2024, and they sport a 26-18 record in those matchups. They are averaging 2.9 goals per game in their past 10 matchups and giving up an average of 2.3 per game.
Best bets for Colorado Avalanche vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina has played well on home ice this season, while the Avalanche have had their struggles on the road. The betting pick is for the Carolina Hurricanes to beat the Colorado Avalanche.
The betting pick is for the Avalanche and Hurricanes to combine for over than 6.5 goals tonight.
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