Hurricanes vs Bruins Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Target McAvoy's Shot Total in Beantown

Charlie McAvoy has generated way more offensive chances within the confines of TD Garden than on the road, and we expect Boston's star defenseman to keep the production going in tonight's marquee Eastern Conference clash. Read more in our Hurricanes vs. Bruins betting picks.

Neil Parker - Analyst at Covers.com
Neil Parker • Betting Analyst
Jan 24, 2024 • 16:09 ET • 4 min read
Information icon

This article contains predictions for an old game!

Latest NHL Picks
Charlie McAvoy Boston Bruins NHL
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

A pair of NHL heavyweights go head-to-head in a potential Eastern Conference Final matchup on Wednesday, as the Carolina Hurricanes visit the Boston Bruins at TD Garden.

Carolina and Boston have both exploded out of the holiday break and continue to hang among the betting favorites in the Stanley Cup odds. The Bruins have won five straight and haven’t lost in regulation in nine games, while the Hurricanes enter with an active 3-2-1 stretch that was preceded by their own five-game winning streak.

Boston is a home favorite in the NHL odds for Wednesday’s meeting, and our breakdown, free NHL picks, and NHL player props are the perfect complement for the tape-measuring matchup for Hurricanes vs. Bruins.

Hurricanes vs Bruins odds

Hurricanes vs Bruins predictions

The Boston Bruins have been the kings of puck luck during their 10-1-3 surge out of the holiday break. They sport the second-highest team shooting percentage (12.03) and seventh-highest team save percentage (.931) at five-on-five for a league-best 105.1 PDO. For perspective, during their historic regular season last year, the Bruins recorded a league-best 103.6 PDO at 5-on-5, with the Islanders slotting in second at 101.5.

Anyway you slice it, Boston is due for statistical correction, but I’m just not sure the negative regression is coming against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. The Hurricanes are just 12-10-1 on the road, while the Bruins have steamrolled all visitors with a 16-3-3 home record.

Additionally, I don’t trust the Carolina goaltending. Veteran Antti Raanta ranks last in SV% (.866) and goals saved above average per 60 minutes (-0.90) among NHL regulars this season, while backup Spencer Martin was just picked up on waivers and has struggled across his 51 career appearances.

I also downgrade the Carolina attack with Andrei Svechnikov (upper body) out of action. He ranks second in goals and points per 60 on the team over the past three years, and Carolina sports an underwhelming 7-7-2 record with him on the shelf this season.

As a result of the uncertainty in how this game is going to play out, I’m turning to the props markets for my best bet.

Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy has shown an uptick in shot volume recently, and his shots (5.06) and attempts (10.54) per 60 at TD Garden have been higher than his respective 4.48 and 9.19 marks on the road for the year. McAvoy has cleared this 1.5-shot total in eight consecutive games while totaling 22 shots on 33 attempts. Additionally, he’s registered two shots or more in 11 of his 18 home games for the season.

While Carolina suppresses the possession and shooting metrics of its opponents, it isn’t as pronounced on the road. The Hurricanes allow 3.6 more shots per game on the highway, and their 5-on-5 Corsi For percentage drops by 4.1%.

My best bet: Charlie McAvoy Over 1.5 shots (-124 at BetRivers)

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site
.

Hurricanes vs Bruins same-game parlay

Hurricanes 3-way moneyline

McAvoy Over 1.5 shots

Martin Necas Over 2.5 shots

Because I’m anticipating the Bruins cooling off with a decline in their 5-on-5 shooting percentage and save percentage, taking a flier on the Hurricanes winning in regulation gives this SGP some long odds. 

I highlighted my Carolina concerns, but the Hurricanes are still an elite team and rank second in my offense ratings and third in defense. Carolina also paces the NHL in Corsi For percentage (59.8%) and is third in expected goals percentage (55.9%) at 5-on-5, with a third-ranked 27.0 power-play percentage and fifth-ranked 83.3 penalty-kill percentage.

Turning to the final leg of my SGP, Carolina winger Martin Necas has registered a team-high 11 shots and 17 attempts over the past two games since returning from an upper-body injury.

I’m also expecting him to see soft matchups on Wednesday. Carolina leans on centers Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal to play against Boston’s top players as much as possible, and Necas’ uptick in shot volume aligns with him skating on a new-look line alongside Jack Drury and Stefan Noesen.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Best NHL bonuses for Hurricanes vs Bruins

DraftKings All Users
Hurricanes/Bruins goal in first 10 minutes
-166 BOOSTED to +100! Claim Now

BetMGM New Users
Wager $5 on any market
Get $158 in bonus bets! Claim Now

Eligible USA locations only. Also, see our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2024.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Hurricanes vs Bruins moneyline and Over/Under analysis

There hasn’t been notable movement in the moneyline for this game. Pinnacle opened with Boston priced at -138 and Carolina at +122, and the two teams are respectively at -135 and +122 as of Wednesday afternoon.

There were minor adjustments along the way, but nothing of significance. Additionally, bet365 has only made a single five-point adjustment as of Wednesday morning.

The total for this game is a different story. There isn't a consensus number with 5.5 and 6.0 totals available, and there has been line movement to the Over 6.0 at Pinnacle and bet365. FanDuel has 5.5 available, with the Over carrying a -134 vig.

Hurricanes vs Bruins betting trend to know

Carolina has won six of its past seven games on the road. Find more NHL betting trends for Hurricanes vs. Bruins.

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site
.

Hurricanes vs Bruins game info

Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date: Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Puck drop: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: TNT

Hurricanes vs Bruins latest injuries

Google News
Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Pages related to this topic

Betting Analyst

Neil Parker is, first and foremost, a sports fan. A huge supporter of the Cowboys, Cubs, and Maple Leafs, he has managed to parlay his passion into writing gigs with Sportsbook Review, USA TODAY, theScore, DraftKings Playbook, and RotoWire, among many others. He also co-hosted the Daily Fantasy Edge podcast and can now be seen offering expert golf and hockey advice on Covers’ Before you Bet broadcast.

Neil takes a numbers-based approach to his handicapping and complements his in-depth statistical analysis with a keen eye on the markets to provide the best available odds. He loves to lean on his rolodex of idioms to offset his inner nerd. When it comes to wagering, he throws down on anything that catches his eye at bet365, Betway and BetVictor. He also keeps a close eye on CoolBet because the polar bear brand often has outlier NHL and NFL moneyline prices.

Neil graduated with honors from St. Thomas University in 2007 before completing his BEd at Acadia University in 2010. After teaching a myriad of courses and subjects, he found a groove delivering fun lessons to exceptional learners in non-traditional classroom environments. If his decade-plus teaching run taught him anything about sports betting, it’s to stay the course and use the summer – or offseason – to refresh and prepare to be better in the year to come.

Neil’s top pieces of advice for recreational bettors are to stay within your means and to remember sportsbooks aren’t bank accounts. Don’t be afraid to pull those winnings and treat yourself to a lifetime experience courtesy of a big win.

Popular Content

Legal Canadian sports betting

Best Canadian betting sites Ontario sports betting