Coyotes vs. Hurricanes Odds
| Coyotes Odds | +195 |
| Hurricanes Odds | -240 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 +100o / -122u |
Here's everything you need to know about Coyotes vs. Hurricanes on Saturday, Jan. 26 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
Carolina has dominated this matchup over the past couple of seasons, winning six of the past seven meetings. Will the Hurricanes take care of business once again?
Let's dig into the NHL odds and make an Coyotes vs. Hurricanes prediction and pick.
Arizona Coyotes
Once again, there is just not much to like about the construction of this Arizona team. The Coyotes are getting better, but they are still in the midst of a rebuild and are an inefficient team in all three zones.
Offensively, this team ranks 20th in goals scored per game and 30th in shots on goal per game. Arizona's underlying metrics suggest positive regression is unlikely, as it ranks in the bottom half of the league in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) at 5-on-5.
Analytically, the Coyotes are even worse in the defensive zone, as they rank 21st in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5-on-5. That poor combination of offensive and defensive production is why they rank 23rd in expected goal differential per 60 minutes at even-strength.
Goaltending has kept this team somewhat afloat thus far, but that is unsustainable with those metrics. Connor Ingram is projected to start between the pipes, and he is coming off an extremely poor performance that indicates this expected regression is starting to occur. In that outing, Ingram allowed six goals on 37 shots for a .838 SV% en route to Arizona's 6-3 loss.
Carolina Hurricanes
Ingram and this Coyotes blue line could be in for another tough night against Carolina, a team that ranks 10th or higher in goals scored per game, shots on goal per game and power-play percentage. At 5-on-5, the Hurricanes rank eighth in xGF/60.
Carolina is always a tough team to go against because it is just as good in its own end as well. This season, the Hurricanes rank in the top third of the league in goals allowed per game, shots on goal allowed per game and penalty-kill percentage.
They rank even higher analytically, sitting third in xGA/60 at 5-on-5. Clearly, there are not a lot of gaps in this lineup.
The only reason Carolina is not higher in the standings is because of inconsistent goaltending. However, goaltender Antti Raanta is projected to start between the pipes Saturday evening and he boasts a terrific track record against the Coyotes.
Through seven career starts against Arizona, Raanta is 6-0-1 with a stellar .936 SV% and 1.84 GAA. All six of those wins came by at least a two-goal differential.
Hurricanes fans: With North Carolina sports betting expected to come online as soon as March, you’ll soon be able to bet legally at major sportsbooks. Learn more.
Coyotes vs. Hurricanes
Betting Pick & Prediction
I typically don't love playing -1.5 lines in this league — the NHL is certainly an "any given night" organization. However, there is just not a single aspect to like about Arizona unless Ingram once again pulls something out of the hat.
However, he just got lit up by Tampa, and certainly can get lit up by Carolina as well. On the other hand, Raanta has utterly dominated the Coyotes throughout his career.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are clearly better offensively and defensively. At 5-on-5, they rank fourth in expected goal differential per 60 minutes, which is 19 spots higher than Arizona.
We are catching a good price on the Hurricanes -1.5 at +106 via BetRivers, a line that is four-to-six cents longer than the rest of the market.
Pick: Hurricanes -1.5 (+106 at BetRivers | Play to +100)
