Carolina Hurricanes vs. Boston Bruins: Prediction, Odds, & NHL Betting Picks (1/24/24)

Tonight’s NHL slate features a showdown between two Eastern Conference postseason competitors with the Carolina Hurricanes traveling to take on the Boston Bruins. While the Bruins are coming off a big interconference win, the Canes are returning to the road after a tough home loss. This betting preview features analysis for the game plus the latest odds.

Hurricanes vs. Bruins Prediction

• Boston Bruins Moneyline

The Carolina Hurricanes are hitting the road for the first time in weeks. The last road game the Canes played was on January 5, 2024, when they took down the Washington Capitals 6-2. In their previous 4 road games, Carolina is 4-0 and outsourcing opponents 20-7. A road win would be a great palette cleanser for the team following a 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild.

However, that won’t come easy against the Boston Bruins, who are once again looking like a dangerous Stanley Cup contender. The Bruins are coming off a 4-1 dismantling of the Winnipeg Jets, who some consider to be the best team in the Western Conference. Boston’s ability to wear down Winnipeg’s top-ranked defense and All-Star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck especially stood out in the statement win.

In many categories, the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes are very close. Offensively, Boston is averaging 3.48 goals per game compared to Carolina’s 3.40. The Hurricanes rank 3rd in power play percentage at 26.97% with the Bruins at 4th at 26.76%. The Bruins have an 83.93 power play kill percentage in coparison to Carolina’s 83.33%.

However, goaltending is beginning to become a real problem for the Hurricanes with Pytor Kochetkov and Frederik Anderson missing time. Antti Raanta has gone 3 straight games with a save percentage of .833 or lower while only facing an average of 17.6 shots per game. On the season, Raanta is -12.4 in goals saved above expected. Spencer Martin might get the start between the pipes tonight, but his stats are less than inspiring (3-8-1, .866 SV%, 3.64 GAA). Considering the Bruins feature the goalie tandem of Linus Ullmark (.913 SV%, 2.8 GAA) and Jeremy Swayman (.923 SV%, 2.31 GAA), they have a major edge between the pipes.

Carolina will definitely have its hands full with Boston’s playmakers on offense. David Pastrnak leads the team with 30 goals and ranks 4th in the league when it comes to lighting the lamp. Pasta also leads the team with 67 points, followed by Brad Machand (who himself has 21 goals on the season) with 44 points. Center Charlie Coyle is also heating up, with 3 goals and 5 assists on a 5-game point streak.

While Carolina has had some success away from home ice, this could be a rusty return to the road for Carolina. The Bruins are also 16-3-3 at TD Garden this season. A full-strength Carolina team would definitely make this game more interesting, but with subpar play in goal, taking Boston on the moneyline seems like the right play tonight.

BetMGM lists the Boston Bruins to win the game at -145. With varying odds on different sports betting apps, don’t forget to shop for the best number.

North Carolina Sports Betting Update

North Carolina sports betting is confirmed to launch on March 11, 2024! That means bettors will be able to immediately wager on Carolina Hurricanes and Charlotte Hornets games. Plus, March Madness will tip off after the rollout of NC sports wagering. Plenty of top mobile sportsbooks are looking to expand into the Tar Heel State. BetMGM North Carolina and FanDuel North Carolina should be some of the first online sportsbooks available in the North Carolina sports betting market. Expect big bonuses from both platforms, with BetMGM North Carolina offering a Bet $5 Get $158 promotion. Meanwhile, a Bet $5 Get $150 special is projected to be available with FanDuel North Carolina.

Keep an eye on the LINEUPS.com North Carolina sports betting pages for launch information, plus the best promo codes and pre-registration details.