Carolina Hurricanes Vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: Prediction, Odds, & NHL Betting Picks (1/13/24)
The Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins are preparing to face off in a showdown of Metropolitan Division rivals on 1/13/24. While Carolina just recorded a multi-goal win, the Penguins are coming off an overtime loss. This betting preview has expert picks for the game as well as the best odds.
Hurricanes vs. Penguins Prediction
- Over 6.5
The Carolina Hurricanes are coming off an electric home win over the Anaheim Ducks. The Canes won the game 6-3 as Seth Jarvis led the way with 3 points. Jarvis has had an excellent season so far, recording 31 points and tying Sebastian Aho with a team-leading 15 goals.
With the win, Carolina now has 51 points, second in the Metropolitan Division. The Pittsburgh Penguins, meanwhile, are tied for fifth in the Metro with the New Jersey Devils at 45 points. However, the Penguins are only 2 points out of a Wild Card spot right now.
It’s important to note that, in the win over the Ducks, Carolina goaltender Pytor Kochetkov suffered an injury and didn’t return to the game, meaning there’s a good chance Antti Raanta will be between the pipes against the Penguins. Raanta has been subpar this season, recording a .862 save percentage to go with 3.27 GAA.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks. The team overcame a 3-1 deficit to bring the game to OT thanks to two goals from Sidney Crosby. The future Hall-of-Famer has been playing at a high level this season, with his 24 goals ranking 8th in the entire league right now.
The Pittsburgh offense as a whole has been heating up as of late. Throughout the team’s last 11 games, the Pens have been averaging 3.7 goals per game. Jake Guentzel leads the team with 45 points and is currently second on the team with 18 goals. The team has definitely been top-heavy in terms of goal scoring, with Crosby, Guentzel, Evgeni Malkin, and Bryan Rust accounting for 54% of the team’s goals.
It’s tough to pick an outright winner in this game, as the Penguins have been feisty and would love to leave PNC Arena with a divisional win. And while the Hurricanes are on a 6-1 run, the team will be shakier in goal without Kochetov.
Instead, the over seems like the right call in this Saturday showdown. Pittsburgh is 5-1 to the over in its last 6 road games, which definitely coincides with the offense clicking as of late. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are on a 6-2 run to the over in their last 8 games overall. Take the over in this matchup and expect some fireworks.
BetMGM Sportsbook currently lists the over (6.5) at -110 for the Saturday matchup. Before placing a wager, remember to check out the latest odds with all the top sports betting apps.
North Carolina sports betting is launching soon! Online sports wagering in the Tar Heel State is projected to roll out around March Madness, which tips off on March 19th. That means first-time bettors in the state will be able to wager during one of the most exciting times on the sports calendar. Plus, both the Carolina Hurricanes and Charlotte Hornets will be active during this projected launch. Promo codes for the most popular online sportsbooks will be available when North Carolina sports betting goes live. Bet365 North Carolina and BetRivers North Carolina will offer two of the best promo codes in the state. New users can expect up to $2,000 in bonuses with the Bet365 North Carolina Bonus Code, as well as a 2nd chance bet with the BetRivers North Carolina Bonus Code.
Take a look at the Carolina sports betting pages on LINEUPS.com, as they’ll have the latest information on the launch of sports betting.
