Pittsburgh Penguins vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction, 3/4/2022 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Carolina Hurricanes

Date: Friday, March 4, 2022

Location: PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC

TV: Bally Sports South

Odds/Point Spread: Penguins (+120) Hurricanes (-143)

The Pittsburgh Penguins (33-14-8) are headed to PNC Arena on Friday where they will try to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes (37-11-5). The odds on this game have the Penguins at +120 while the Hurricanes open at -143. The betting total is set at 7.

The Pittsburgh Penguins came out of this game feeling pretty good about themselves with a 3-2 victory over the Blue Jackets the last time they stepped on the ice. Pittsburgh accrued 20 penalty minutes in this outing. In addition, they had 4 chances with the advantage and were able to net 1 goal. The Penguins offense didn't overly impress in this victory. For the matchup, they tallied a score on 3 out of the 40 shots they launched.

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In reference to their scoring capabilities, the Pittsburgh Penguins have notched 176 goals (9th in the NHL) on the campaign and have allowed 143. For the current campaign, they have recorded 74 points and their points percentage is .673. Pittsburgh has accounted for 168 power play opportunities and they have added 37 goals during those advantages, garnering them a rate of 22.02%. When at even strength, the Penguins have allowed the opponent to score 124 goals while notching 139 themselves. Pittsburgh has taken 1,915 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 9.2%. The Penguins have had 1,666 shots attempted against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .914. Pittsburgh Penguins opponents have 134 power play tries (31st in pro hockey) and have come away with 19 goals in those attempts.

The man protecting the goal in this game is Casey DeSmith. DeSmith has played in 84 contests during his hockey career. He has accumulated a win-loss mark of 38-25-8 and he has started in 71 games. Opponents have scored 202 goals versus DeSmith in his career and his goals against average is 2.68. DeSmith has seen 2,340 shot attempts against him and has accrued 2,138 saves. His save percentage currently sits at .914 during his 4,518 mins played. During his career on the ice, DeSmith has 39 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .549.

In their last contest, Carolina went up against the Red Wings in an outing where the Hurricanes ended up losing by a final of 4-3. They had 2 power play opportunities in this outing and earned 1 goal out of those attempts. The Hurricanes notched 3 goals out of the 30 shots on goal they attempted.

This season, the Carolina Hurricanes have earned 184 goals, 79 points, as well as a points percentage of .745. They have permitted 126 goals to be scored by of a combination of 107 goals at even strength and 19 goals while they were shorthanded. The Hurricanes are sitting with 144 goals at even strength and 40 goals (5th in professional hockey) while on the power play. They have recorded 157 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play rate of 25.48%. Carolina has taken 1,759 shots (12th in professional hockey) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 10.46%, while allowing the opposition 1,537 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 89.89% on their oppositions 188 power play tries, and their save percentage currently sits at 91.8%.

On the other side of the ice you are expected to see Antti Raanta protecting the net. He has tallied 5,342 saves out of 5,814 shots tried, which gives him a save percentage of .919. Raanta holds a career record of 100-68-22 and has been in goal for 212 games. He has started in 192 contests and has played for a total of 11,492 minutes. Raanta's quality start rate is 62.5% and he has 120 quality starts in his hockey career. The opposition is averaging 2.46 goals/game and he has yielded 472 goals in total.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy's Pick: Take Carolina (-143)

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