Time: 9 p.m. ET
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Where to watch: Bally Sports South, ALT
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Avalanche -135, Hurricanes +115
FanDuel: Avalanche -132, Hurricanes +110
BetMGM: Avalanche -133, Hurricanes +115
Caesars: Avalanche -135, Hurricanes +115
Season record
Hurricanes: 9-4-1 (19 points)
Avalanche: 7-4-1 (15 points)
What an electric start to the NHL season. So much parity, so many good teams through the first 10-plus games, you have every right to be excited! Of course the Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins are heading the fun charge here as the top two teams in the league, because of course they are. But never count out the Avalanche, you know they're always going to be hanging around and will be eating worlds once they get everyone healthy. But this is a good time to be playing these hockey games, as well. Look no further than our own Vegas Writer off to a 14-11-0 start over the first 30 days of the NHL season. There's also ASA, Inc. posting a 10-5-1 mark through the first month. You know you can trust our champion handicappers to get you across the finish line with your NHL bets. Check out our Best Bets page at bigal.com to see what we're throwing down!
Hurricanes - Avalanche preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Hurricanes: won 7-2 vs. Oilers on Thursday
Avalanche: won 3 straight; won 5-3 vs. Predators on Thursday
It’s a slow start for two of the perennial Stanley Cup contenders – and the defending Stanley Cup champions – but it’s still bound to be an exciting game when the Carolina Hurricanes take on the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on Saturday.
It’s crazy to talk slow starts involving teams that are 9-4-1 and 7-4-1 respectively, but it hasn’t been the form of world domination for either team, especially the Avs. Colorado is on a 3-game winning streak, but two of those came against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Global Series in Finland. The Avs returned home with a 5-3 win against the Nashville Predators on Thursday in a rematch of last year’s first-round series that Colorado swept.
The Avs scored five unanswered after Eeli Tolvanen opened the scoring early in the first. Logan O’Connor and Mikko Rantanen had two goals each, and Evan Rodrigues scored his fifth of the year to give Colorado some semblance that maybe they’ve gotten things together. Alexandar Georgiev made 32 saves in another start where he hopes to continue to show he can be a reliable goalie for the champs.
"I thought we had a great second period, but first period gave up too much, kicked the puck around a lot. A lot of icings. Just not sharp," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "We did some good things on the offensive side of it. I thought we had some guys that played outstanding tonight. [Nathan] MacKinnon was phenomenal. Logan O'Connor, phenomenal. Mikko had a pretty good night finishing. We capitalized on our chances in this game, they didn't. That was the difference."
The Avs are still weaving through the woods without captain Gabriel Landeskog, who is out for at least three more months after undergoing knee surgery. Fortunately for Colorado, there’s enough scoring in this roster to make up for it. But it’s hard to replicate what the captain brings on a nightly basis.
The Hurricanes are in a bit of a bind of their own. Frederik Andersen has struggled and is now out for a while with an undisclosed injury. For the time being, it’s Antti Raanta and Pyotr Kochetkov occupying the net like it’s the playoffs all over again. But Carolina did get a 7-2 win at home against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Kochetkov made 20 saves, but it was Andrei Svechnikov scoring a hat trick and reaching the 100-goal plateau in his career to pace the Carolina offense.
Oh, and Svechnikov scored a hat trick on Oct. 20 … against the Oilers. Clearly, he is Connor McDavid’s worst nightmare.
"It's special for sure to be at home and score my 100th goal," Svechnikov said. "It's been amazing."
The Hurricanes have the talent, but as it showed during the playoffs, goaltending needs to be at its best. Without Andersen, we have no idea how good this tandem can be for an extended period of time. Raanta, who likely gets the start, will need to be at his best against a high-octane Colorado offense.
Prediction
Colorado likely needed to be back home to get some semblance of feel-good moments back in their game. The Global Series was a great way to shake that off, but Nathan MacKinnon and co. need some stellar wins at some point and it’s likely coming in this one. Avalanche win 4-3
Betting trends
Hurricanes are 24-13 after a non-conference game the last three years.
Hurricanes are 50-31 after an over the last three years.
Avalanche are 17-3 when scoring 5 goals or more in 2 straight games the last three years.
Avalanche are 47-19 off a home win the last three years.
Projected lines
Hurricanes:
Teuvo Teravainen -- Sebastian Aho -- Seth Jarvis
Andrei Svechnikov -- Jesperi Kotkaniemi -- Martin Necas
Jordan Martinook -- Jordan Staal -- Jesper Fast
Stefan Noesen -- Jack Drury -- Derek Stepan
Jaccob Slavin -- Brent Burns
Brady Skjei -- Brett Pesce
Dylan Coghlan -- Jalen Chatfield
Antti Raanta
Avalanche:
Artturi Lehkonen -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Alex Newhook -- Evan Rodrigues -- Martin Kaut
Andrew Cogliano -- J.T. Compher -- Logan O'Connor
Sampo Ranta -- Shane Bowers -- Dryden Hunt
Devon Toews -- Cale Makar
Jacob MacDonald -- Josh Manson
Kurtis MacDermid -- Erik Johnson
Alexandar Georgiev
Statistical leaders
Hurricanes:
Points: Martin Necas -- 19
Goals: Andrei Svechnikov -- 11
Assists: Martin Necas -- 12
Goalie: Annti Raanta -- 3-1-1, 2.36 GAA, .914 SV%
Avalanche:
Points: Nathan MacKinnon -- 21
Goals: Mikko Rantanen -- 9
Assists: Nathan MacKinnon -- 18
Goalie: Alexandar Georgiev -- 7-1-1, 2.66 GAA, .924 SV%
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