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The Carolina Hurricanes (2-0-0) and the Anaheim Ducks (0-1-0) meet Sunday at Honda Center in Anaheim. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Hurricanes vs. Ducks odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Hurricanes held on for a 6-5 victory in a shootout Saturday night against the Los Angeles Kings, kicking off a 6-game road trip. Carolina had 5 different scorers light the lamp in regulation, while Frederik Andersen made 25 saves on 30 shots.
The Ducks opened their season on the road against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night, falling 4-1 against the defending champs. Anaheim allowed 2 power-play goals and an empty-net goal, while Mason McTavish notched the team’s only goal.
Both teams are playing in a back-to-back situation. Last season, Carolina went 9-4 straight up (SU) in the 2nd end of a back-to-back, although it is just 3-8 in the past 11 tries on the puck line. The Under is 5-2 in the past 7 games in the 2nd end of such sets.
Anaheim went just 1-10 in the 2nd end of a back-to-back, although the Ducks covered the past 3 on the puck line, while going 4-1 in the past 5 in the 2nd end of a back-to-back set. The Over is 7-3 in the past 10 in the 2nd end of such situations.
The Ducks swept the regular-season series against the Hurricanes in 2022-23, winning a pair of 1-goal games as big underdogs, including a 4-3 OT win Dec. 6 in Anaheim.
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Hurricanes at Ducks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:51 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Hurricanes -275 (bet $275 to win $100) | Ducks +220 (bet $100 to win $220)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Hurricanes -1.5 (-110) | Ducks +1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -120 | U: +100)
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Hurricanes at Ducks projected goalies
Antti Raanta (19-3-3, 2.23 GAA, .910 SV%, 4 SO – 2022-23) vs. Lukas Dostal (4-10-3, 3.78 GAA, .901 SV% – 2022-23)
Coach Rod Brind’Amour used Andersen in the front end of the back-to-back situation, and he’ll more than likely roll with Raanta against the Ducks. Raanta did not face Anaheim last season, as it was Pyotr Kochetkov starting the December game, and Andersen starting in Raleigh on Feb. 25.
Dostal allowed 3 or more goals in 7 of his final 8 games last season, and he hasn’t won since March 17, going 0-5-1 in his final 6 starts. The last time he faced an Eastern Conference team, however, he allowed 4 goals on 42 shots in a 7-4 win against the Blue Jackets on St. Patrick’s Day.
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Hurricanes at Ducks picks and predictions
Prediction
Hurricanes 4, Ducks 3
Moneyline
The Hurricanes (-275) will cost you nearly 3 times your potential return, and that’s very expensive. Carolina was inexplicably swept by Anaheim last season, and it seemingly plays down to the level of its competition.
The Ducks (+220) didn’t do much in a 3-goal loss in Vegas, and it faces a tough turnaround for the home opener. Again, Anaheim was just 1-10 in the 2nd game of a back-to-back set last season.
AVOID.
Puck line/Against the spread
The DUCKS +1.5 (-110) cashed on the puck line in the final 3 games as an underdog, while going 4-1 in the past 5 such situations. It also won a pair of games outright against the Hurricanes last season, both by 1 goal.
The Hurricanes -1.5 (-110) can’t be trusted as favorites on the puck line. Carolina was just 3-8 on the puck line in the past 11 in the 2nd game of a back-to-back set, although it covered the final 2 such games to close out the regular season.
Over/Under
OVER 6 (-120) is the lean with a pair of backup goalies in between the pipes.
While Raanta certainly is NHL caliber, and could start for several teams across the league, Dostal is a bit shaky, and he isn’t quite as consistent as the Ducks might like.
The Over is 3-1 in the past 4 games when playing on no rest, while going 7-3 in the past 10 such situations.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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