The Carolina Hurricanes (-160) will be out to prolong their winning streak when they head to face the Buffalo Sabres (+135) at KeyBank Center on Wednesday.
The total is 6.5 (O: -110, U: -110)Carolina (33-9-8) is playing on back-to-back days after earning a high-scoring 5-4 overtime win over the Kings yesterday, their sixth win in a row. The Hurricanes committed only two penalties in the game, yet still conceded a power play goal.
Five players found the net for the Hurricanes. Brent Burns scored and provided an assist to share the scoring lead with Andrei Svechnikov, who had two assists.
Frederik Andersen allowed four goals on 21 shots against (.809%) in the win. Buffalo (26-19-4) fell 3-2 (SO) to the Wild on Saturday. Zemgus Girgensons and Jack Quinn both scored once for the Sabres. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had a great performance with 33 saves (.942%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Hurricanes won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 5-3 victory in November. Sebastian Aho led Carolina with four points (3G 1A). Quinn led Buffalo with two points (0G 2A). Antti Raanta got the win despite saving only 22 of 25 shots (.880%).
FACING OFF
Carolina is averaging 3.30 goals per game for the season, 11th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Sabres team that is allowing 3.35 goals a game (22nd).
Meanwhile, Buffalo has found the net 3.76 times a game on average, first in the league, and the Hurricanes are allowing opponents to score 2.66 goals per game (7th).
Carolina averages more shots/game (35.1) than most teams in the league, ranking third, though the team’s 9.6% shooting percentage is 23rd.
Buffalo’s average of 32.5 attempts ranks 12th.The Sabres’ 25.88% power play percentage is the fourth-best in the league, while the Hurricanes rank 22nd with a conversion rate of 19.65%.
While strong on the power play, Buffalo has been less impressive at penalty killing, as the home team owns the league’s fifth-lowest PK% at 73.65%. Carolina’s 81.50% ranks seventh in the NHL.
TOP PERFORMERS:
Martin Necas and Aho have been the top skaters for the Hurricanes this season with 46 and 45 points. In the net, Pyotr Kochetkov (10-4-5) is Carolina’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.33 GAA and a .913% save percentage.
Tage Thompson leads the Sabres in scoring with 68 points (5th in the league). He has 34 goals (3rd in the league) and 34 assists in 49 games.
Craig Anderson (8-6-2) has the best goals against average for Buffalo at 2.73. He has a save percentage of .918%. Luukkonen (13-5-2) has played the most games in net for the Sabres this season. He has a 3.26 GAA and a .900% save percentage.
HOME AND AWAY
Carolina is looking for a fourth consecutive win on the road this season. Buffalo is 11-12-2 at KeyBank Center this season. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are 6-1 without a day off and 4-0 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Sabres are 6-2 with a rest advantage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Carolina Hurricanes (-145)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
