Coyotes vs Hurricanes NHL Preview and Prediction, 03/03/2023

Odds

2021-2022 season stats

Preview

Metropolitan Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes will face off against the Arizona Coyotes on Friday, March 3, 2023, at 9:30 p.m. EST in Tempe, Arizona. The Coyotes currently sit in seventh place in the Central Division with a 21-30-9 record, while the Hurricanes are atop the Metropolitan Division with a 39-11-8 record. The last time these teams played, the Coyotes won 4-0. This article will provide an extended preview of both teams, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and key players.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes have been one of the best teams in the NHL this season, with a record of 39-11-8. They are currently atop the Metropolitan Division and have a comfortable lead over their divisional rivals. The Hurricanes have been dominant on both ends of the ice this season and will be looking to continue their winning ways against the Coyotes. Seth Jarvis, a recent call-up from the AHL, has been a pleasant surprise, scoring five goals and adding two assists in his last 10 games.

The Hurricanes are known for their high-powered offense, and they have a record of 34-4-4 in games in which they score at least three goals. In their last 10 games, the Hurricanes have been dominant, with a record of 9-1-0 while averaging 4.1 goals per game.

Carolina has a strong defensive unit led by Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce. Slavin is one of the best defenders in the league, and he leads the Hurricanes in ice time per game with 22:53. Meanwhile, Pesce is an excellent shot-blocker and has recorded 84 blocks so far this season. The Hurricanes have allowed just 2.4 goals per game this season, which is the second-best in the league.

Offensively, the Hurricanes have been excellent this season, with several players contributing to their success. Sebastian Aho has been the standout player for Carolina, with 24 goals and 25 assists. He has been a consistent performer for the Hurricanes over the years, and he is currently on pace to record a career-high in points. Andrei Svechnikov has also been in excellent form with nine assists in the last ten games, while Vincent Trocheck has been excellent as well, with 21 goals and 19 assists.

Injury Concerns

The Hurricanes will be without Ondrej Kase, who is out with a concussion, Jake Gardiner, who is out with a hip/back injury, and Max Pacioretty, who is out with an Achilles injury.

Arizona Coyotes

The Arizona Coyotes have struggled this season with a record of 21-30-9. They have a 14-10-2 record at home, but overall, they have not been consistent enough to secure a playoff spot. The Coyotes have a 6-6-6 record in one-goal games, indicating that they have been competitive in close games, but they have not been able to convert those games into wins consistently.

Offensively, Nick Schmaltz has been a bright spot for the Coyotes with 18 goals and 23 assists. Clayton Keller has been hot over the last 10 games with seven goals and 10 assists. However, the Coyotes have struggled to score goals this season, averaging only 2.5 goals per game, which is the fourth-lowest in the league. Their power play is also one of the worst in the league, converting only 14.4% of their chances.

Defensively, the Coyotes have allowed 3.2 goals per game, which is the fifth-highest in the league. Their penalty kill has been decent, killing off 80.4% of their penalties. However, their defense has been inconsistent, allowing four or more goals in 23 games this season.

In terms of injuries, the Coyotes are without Nick Bjugstad, Josh Brown, Nick Schmaltz, Andrew Ladd, and Shea Weber. The Coyotes will need to rely on their depth to compete with the Hurricanes.

BETTING TRENDS

The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Carolina's last 5 games.

Carolina are 12-3 SU in their last 15 games.

Carolina are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games against Arizona.

Carolina are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games on the road.

Carolina are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games when playing on the road against Arizona.

Arizona are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Arizona's last 6 games against Carolina.

The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Arizona's last 7 games at home.

Arizona are 2-8 SU in their last 10 games when playing at home against Carolina.

The total has gone OVER in 11 of Arizona's last 16 games against an opponent in the Eastern Conference conference.

Prediction

e Hurricanes have been dominant on both ends of the ice this season, while the Coyotes have struggled to score goals and keep them out of their own net. The Hurricanes' defense, in particular, has been excellent this season, and they should be able to limit the Coyotes' scoring chances.

Furthermore, the Hurricanes have been in excellent form recently, winning seven of their last 10 games. The Coyotes have been inconsistent, with a 4-3-3 record in their last 10 games. The Hurricanes' offense has also been firing on all cylinders, averaging 3.7 goals per game in their last 10 games.

In terms of head-to-head matchups, the Coyotes did win the last game between these two teams 4-0. However, that was back in December 2022, and the Hurricanes have improved since then. The Hurricanes have won seven of their last 10 games against the Coyotes, including a 5-2 win in their last matchup in March 2022.

Overall, the Hurricanes are the better team and are in better form heading into this game. They should be able to control the game and limit the Coyotes' scoring chances. As a result, the Hurricanes are likely to win and cover the -1.5 puck line.

PICK: Hurricanes -1.5 (-135) 

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