NHL Pick: Hurricanes vs. Maple Leafs Under 5.5 Goals (+110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
The most competitive game on today’s 4-game NHL St. Patrick’s day card sees us head to the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto as they play host to the Carolina Hurricanes in an Eastern Conference top-four battle.
Check out why we like the plus money on the total to go under in this NHL matchup as well as two player props. You bet these picks at any of the major North Carolina betting sites.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Friday, March 17, 2023 – 07:00 PM EDT at Scotiabank Arena
Hurricanes Lose Star
It’s not been good news for the Carolina Hurricanes this week as Andrei Svechnikov will be out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Svechnikov has been the team’s third-highest points scorer this season having had 55 points in 64 games played.
The Hurricanes are currently on the top of the Metropolitan division by one point over the New Jersey Devils but have played two games less. Boasting a very impressive defense the Hurricanes have allowed only 2.5 goals per game (second best in the NHL) and have allowed the league’s lowest shots against per game with just an average of 25 per game.
Toronto Strong on Home Ice
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been one of the best home teams in the NHL this season having gone 24-7-5 in total and it seems likely goaltender Ilya Samsonov will get the nod to start in the crease tonight. Samsonov has been one of the best goaltenders on home ice in the entire NHL this season with a very impressive 17-2-2 record, allowing only 1.95 goals per game.
However, their recent home form has seen them go 0-2 with losses to the Buffalo Sabres and Colorado Avalanche. Toronto trails the Carolina Hurricanes by six points in the Eastern Conference and has played one game more than tonight’s opponents so they will be eager to pick up a win this St. Patrick’s Day.
These teams have faced off once already this season with the Maple Leafs winning 3-1 in Carolina, tonight’s matchup will be their second of three meetings.
Hurricanes vs. Maple Leafs Picks and Predictions
Martin Necas (Carolina Hurricanes)
- Goal: 25
- Assists: 36
- Shot Pet Game: 3.03
Martin Necas has been averaging three shots per game this season as it is, which is ranked as the third highest on the roster, and now without Svechnikov available (their top shot taker), we are liking Necas to have even more shooting responsibility.
Necas over 2.5 shots at -115 seems like a really nice NHL pick in this matchup and we are very much looking for a bounce-back spot here as Necas has only registered one shot in each of his previous two outings.
He has averaged both 3.1 shots on the road this season and during Friday games as well as hitting over 2.5 shots the last time these teams met.
NHL Pick: Martin Necas Over 2.5 Shots (-115) at BetOnline
Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs)
- Goal: 31
- Assists: 36
- Shot Pet Game: 4.23
Although Auston Matthews hasn’t been the Maple Leafs’ top scorer this season, he has only scored four goals less than William Nylander and has been featured in seven games less.
Matthews has been riding a hot streak having scored in three of his previous four games, failing to score last time we like his chances of getting back on the scoreboard on home ice where he has scored 19 of his 31 goals this season.
NHL Pick: Auston Matthews Anytime Goalscorer (+100) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
Game Total Over/Under
Two of the best defenses in the league come head-to-head here. Their previous meeting only produced four goals and combined they have allowed only 5.10 goals per game and we are very much looking at the under 5.5 goals here at +110 NHL odds.
Carolina has seen under six-game goals in 17 of their 32 road games while Toronto has seen slightly more home games go over the total with 16 of their 36 games having had less than six goals.
NHL Pick: Under 5.5 Goals (+110) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
