The Detroit Red Wings (33-19-6) and Carolina Hurricanes (36-15-6) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. EST at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Hurricanes are favored by 1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6 (-1200 / +100u). The Hurricanes are a -185 favorite to win outright, while the Red Wings are +155 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Red Wings vs. Hurricanes predictions and NHL picks.
Red Wings vs. Hurricanes Odds, Pick
| Red Wings Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -165 | 6 -120o / 100u | +155 |
| Hurricanes Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +140 | 6 -120o / 100u | -185 |
- Red Wings vs. Hurricanes Spread: Red Wings +1.5 (-165), Hurricanes -1.5 (+140)
- Red Wings vs. Hurricanes Over/Under: 6 (-120o / +100u)
- Red Wings vs. Hurricanes Moneyline: Red Wings +155, Hurricanes -185
Red Wings vs. Hurricanes Preview
Detroit Red Wings
I’m pretty sure the Red Wings are one of the few teams in the history of the league to go a full month without having a home game.
But I’m not sure it matters to this team, because gutsy performances are all they know.
Dylan Larkin is still riding high from winning a gold medal, scoring the lone two goals to win in overtime against the Senators, and John Gibson came out of the break looking like his younger self.
After facing 27 shots on Thursday, Gibson only let up one goal to will the Wings to victory.
It’s a weird time to bet on hockey because you don’t know what a team is all about after a three week break.
Detroit’s 5-on-5 offense has seemed to fare well all season, though, since its expected goals rate is ranked 16th in the league – smack dab in the middle with a 50.2 xGF%.
But what’s been more effective is how solid the defense has been. Led by Mo Seider, this is a solid defensive core with an extremely high ceiling.
For now, the Wings are playing to a 2.71 xGA/60.
It always feels like Detroit flies under the radar, especially with the power play. It may not have the league's best power play, but it’s scoring at a 23.1% clip, which ranks ninth.
When you have dynamic playmakers like Patrick Kane and Lucas Raymond, paired with goal scorers like Alex DeBrincat and Larkin, that’s the perfect storm for an incredibly deadly power play.
Carolina Hurricanes
I will be interested to see how Detroit fares with Carolina, who dating back to before the Olympic break, had grabbed at least a point in 11 straight games – even beating the seemingly unbreakable Tampa Bay Lightning.
Now I admit, I wasn’t all in on Brandon Bussi, and I don’t know if I still am. But boy, has he been a godsend for this team.
Carolina had always felt immense pressure with mediocre goaltending, and Bussi has been just the guy to carry the Canes when they needed it.
For the season, Bussi is playing to a .906 SV% and a 10.8 GSAx, and a 4.0 GSAx in his last 10 starts.
Beyond that, I don’t need to give you Carolina’s spiel, but I will anyway. It’s the best team in the East for a reason.
Coach Rob Brind’Amour has his guys buzzin’ with a fourth-best 55.15 xGF% and a 10th-best 2.64 xGA/60.
It's a three-headed monster in Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis that hasn’t slowed down but also has some of the best depth in the league, which makes them a scary out when it comes to playoff time.
Red Wings vs. Hurricanes Prediction
Here you have two teams that have been playing lights-out hockey for the better part of 60 games this season.
Carolina doesn’t seem like it’s slowing down any time soon, and Detroit has turned into a well-oiled machine.
Bussi needs to show up like he has all season for my prediction to hit, but I’m going to pick a 60-minute tie here.
For one, we’ve seen a lot of overtime this season, and secondly, in each of these teams’ last 10 games, eight of them, or 40% of them, have gone into overtime.
And one more for you… In the last six Hurricanes home games, games have been decided by one goal. So for this value, I don’t think it’s crazy to pick a tie here.
Pick: 60 Minute Tie (+350)
