The Colorado Avalanche (7-4-1) will be looking to build on their winning streak when they play host to the Carolina Hurricanes (9-4-1) at Ball Arena on Saturday. Carolina is coming off a high-scoring 7-2 win over the Oilers on Thursday.
The Hurricanes committed only two penalties in the game, yet still conceded a power play goal. Andrei Svechnikov led the Hurricanes with a hat trick. Pyotr Kochetkov had 20 saves in the win.
Colorado won their third in a row, beating the Predators 5-3 on Thursday. Mikko Rantanen and Logan O’Connor both scored twice for the Avalanche. Alexandar Georgiev had 32 saves.
HEAD TO HEAD
The teams split their two meetings last season, the last of which was a 7-4 victory for the Avalanche in April. Rantanen led Colorado with three points (1G 2A). Jordan Staal led Carolina with two goals. Darcy Kuemper got the win despite saving only 29 of 33 shots (.878%).
FACING OFF
Carolina is averaging 3.14 goals per game for the season, 17th in the NHL, and they are taking on an Avalanche team that is allowing 2.83 goals a game (10th). Meanwhile, Colorado has found the net 3.67 times a game on average, fourth in the league, and the Hurricanes are allowing opponents to score 2.79 goals per game (9th).
Carolina averages more shots/game (36.9) than most teams in the league, ranking third, though the team’s 8.9% shooting percentage is 27th. Colorado’s average of 33.0 attempts ranks 10th. The Avalanche’s 40.54% power play percentage is the best in the league, while the Hurricanes rank 24th with a conversion rate of 18.52%.
While strong on the power play, Colorado has been less successful at penalty killing, as the home team possesses the league’s third-lowest PK% at 68.29%. Carolina’s 76.47% ranks 21st in the NHL.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 19 points this season, Martin Necas is the top skater for the Hurricanes. He has seven goals and 12 assists in 14 games. In the net, Antti Raanta (3-1-1) is Carolina’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.36 GAA and a .914% save percentage.
Frederik Andersen (5-3-0) leads the Hurricanes in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 2.72 and a save percentage of .891%.Nathan MacKinnon leads the Avalanche in scoring with 21 points (8th in the league).
He has three goals and 18 assists (2nd) in 12 games. Georgiev (6-1-1) has the best goals against average for Colorado at 2.61. He has a save percentage of .925%.
HOME AND AWAY
Carolina is 5-2-1 away from home this season. Colorado is 3-1-1 at Ball Arena this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Over 6.5 Goals (-110)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
