Penguins vs Hurricanes odds - why speedy Penguins will be too much for Hurricanes
Online sports betting handicappers saw two classic series in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but the Hurricanes-Penguins betting should be especially exciting. Both teams had to go on the road to win in Game 7 and neither team finished in the top three spots in the Eastern Conference, which gives you a taste of how unexpected this matchup was.
Hurricanes vs Penguins Odds: Penguins -225 to win series
- Penguins speed, high-scoring will be a problem for Carolina
- Hurricanes back in Eastern Conference Final for third time in eight years
- Hurricanes without home-ice advantage for a third consecutive series.
The Hurricanes vs Penguins odds indicate that this series will be the end of the road for Carolina. They’ve done things the hard way throughout the playoffs – particularly winning on the road twice in Game 7’s in both of the first two rounds – and they won’t have home-ice advantage the rest of the way. But the deciding factor in the Hurricanes vs Penguins betting should be the Penguins’ speed. With three lines of speed and skill, the Penguins are going to bring plenty of ammo to this matchup.
The Hurricanes did polish off the Boston Bruins, who were statistically ranked as a higher-ranked scoring unit than the Penguins in the regular season, but the Bruins slumped in the second round whereas the Penguins are hitting on all cylinders. The Hurricanes vs Penguins odds will be decided by the Penguins' speed and puck control, which was the deciding factor in their previous series again the Washington Capitals. The Hurricanes do have a better netminder in Cam Ward to keep up, but they might not have the firepower to score as much.
Sportsbook odds makers watched the Hurricanes defeat a slow-prodding finesse team in Round 1 (New Jersey) and then move past a very physical team in Round 2 (Boston), but they now have to deal with speed, which is not their strength. The Hurricanes leading scorer is All-Star Eric Staal, but after him, the next three leading scorers on the Hurricanes are Jussi Jokinen, Chad LaRose and Ray Whitney.
Hurricanes vs Penguins betting handicappers know that both teams have the experience and neither team will be nervous playing at home or on the road. The Hurricanes are in their third Conference Finals in the last eight years while the Penguins ventured to the Stanley Cup Finals last season. Without home-ice advantage, though, the ‘Canes have the short end of the stick for a third consecutive series. So far, they are 4-4 on the road, which was good enough to get them this far, but they’ll have to do better than that to defeat the talented Penguins.
Without a shutdown defenseman to stop Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin or Eric Staal’s brother Jordan, the Penguins’ trio of centers should lead the way to a win for the bettors backing Pittsburgh on the Hurricanes vs Penguins odds.
For regular handicapping information on the NHL betting, visit the Betting Edge throughout the entire Stanley Cup playoffs - and for more analysis on the Hurricanes vs Penguins odds, check out the stats center.
Who better to offer great sports betting and hockey tips than a native Canadian? Like any good Canuck, Don Melrose eats, sleeps, breathes and bets hockey, making him the perfect NHL handicapper. Thoughts or questions?
