by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Feb 16, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
Where to watch: BSSO, TSN2, RDS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Hurricanes -410, Canadiens +330
FanDuel: Hurricanes -400, Canadiens +310
BetMGM: Hurricanes -400, Canadiens +310
Caesars: Hurricanes -435, Canadiens +335
Season record
Canadiens: 23-27-4
Hurricanes: 35-10-8
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Canadiens - Hurricanes preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Canadiens: won 4-0 vs. Blackhawks
Hurricanes: won 3-2 at Capitals
The Montreal Canadiens will be playing the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, February 16 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Montreal Canadiens won against the Chicago Blackhawks last Tuesday, February 14 at Bell Centre in Montreal with a score of 4-0. The Montreal Canadiens currently rank 8th in the Atlantic Division.
Jake Allen made 22 saves. The Canadiens shut out an opponent for the first time since a 4-0 victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 23, 2022. It was Allen's 24th NHL shutout, and first since Nov. 2, 2021, when he made 22 saves against the Detroit Red Wings.
"[Shutouts are] hard to get in this league, and obviously the last two years have been a little harder on us," Montreal defenseman David Savard said. "And to get one for Jake, he's been playing really well for us, and he deserves it."
Jonathan Drouin had three assists, and Joel Armia and Christian Dvorak each had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens (23-27-4), who have won three in a row for the first time since Nov. 8-12 and begin a four-game road trip Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
"It wasn't a pretty one for us, but we found a way to win," Dvorak said. "We had a really good third period, which was nice, but we really wanted to finish off this homestand the right way and go on the road on a little win streak here."
Justin Barron gave Montreal a 1-0 lead at 8:38 of the first period, scoring with a wrist shot from the point through traffic on a power play. Armia made it 2-0 at 5:45 of the third period, driving to the net and tipping in a pass by Drouin. Savard pushed it to 3-0 at 10:53, scoring glove side from the left face-off circle for his first goal in 21 games (Nov. 23). Dvorak scored 52 seconds later from the right circle after receiving a pass by Drouin from below the goal line at 11:45 for the 4-0 final.
The Montreal Canadiens have won five of their last 10 games.
The Carolina Hurricanes won against the Washington Capitals last Tuesday, February 14 at Capitol One Arena in Washington with a score of 3-2. The Carolina Hurricanes currently rank 1st in the Metropolitan Division.
Frederik Andersen made 13 of his 34 saves in the third period.
"We played hard," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "It wasn't a great game by us by any stretch, but third period, obviously 'Freddie' made a couple nice saves, and we were able to just kind of hang on. So, we'll take the win and move on."
Stefan Noesen had the game-winning goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (35-10-8), who rebounded from a 6-2 home loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday in their first game after the All-Star break.
"For us, it's just kind of finding our legs, finding our groove after that break," Carolina forward Paul Stastny said. "I think we were playing pretty well going into the break (seven straight wins) and now we're just slowly finding it more and more the past couple games, and I think we'll be able to get back to where we were before."
Brent Burns gave Carolina a 1-0 lead at 15:00 of the first period when he scored on a wrist shot through traffic from the point.
The Hurricanes went in front 2-1 at 2:33 of the second when Calvin de Haan's shot from the point deflected off Stastny in the left face-off circle.
Noesen gave the Hurricanes a 3-2 lead on the power play at 11:38 of the second period when he deflected Brady Skjei's point shot in front.
The Carolina Hurricanes have won eight of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Carolina is rolling right now. I wonder how much of a buyer they'll be at the deadline to finally break through the rest of the East. Hurricanes 4, Canadiens 1
The Montreal Canadiens will be playing the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, February 16 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Montreal Canadiens won against the Chicago Blackhawks last Tuesday, February 14 at Bell Centre in Montreal with a score of 4-0. The Montreal Canadiens currently rank 8th in the Atlantic Division.
Jake Allen made 22 saves. The Canadiens shut out an opponent for the first time since a 4-0 victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 23, 2022. It was Allen's 24th NHL shutout, and first since Nov. 2, 2021, when he made 22 saves against the Detroit Red Wings.
"[Shutouts are] hard to get in this league, and obviously the last two years have been a little harder on us," Montreal defenseman David Savard said. "And to get one for Jake, he's been playing really well for us, and he deserves it."
Jonathan Drouin had three assists, and Joel Armia and Christian Dvorak each had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens (23-27-4), who have won three in a row for the first time since Nov. 8-12 and begin a four-game road trip Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
"It wasn't a pretty one for us, but we found a way to win," Dvorak said. "We had a really good third period, which was nice, but we really wanted to finish off this homestand the right way and go on the road on a little win streak here."
Justin Barron gave Montreal a 1-0 lead at 8:38 of the first period, scoring with a wrist shot from the point through traffic on a power play. Armia made it 2-0 at 5:45 of the third period, driving to the net and tipping in a pass by Drouin. Savard pushed it to 3-0 at 10:53, scoring glove side from the left face-off circle for his first goal in 21 games (Nov. 23). Dvorak scored 52 seconds later from the right circle after receiving a pass by Drouin from below the goal line at 11:45 for the 4-0 final.
The Montreal Canadiens have won five of their last 10 games.
The Carolina Hurricanes won against the Washington Capitals last Tuesday, February 14 at Capitol One Arena in Washington with a score of 3-2. The Carolina Hurricanes currently rank 1st in the Metropolitan Division.
Frederik Andersen made 13 of his 34 saves in the third period.
"We played hard," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "It wasn't a great game by us by any stretch, but third period, obviously 'Freddie' made a couple nice saves, and we were able to just kind of hang on. So, we'll take the win and move on."
Stefan Noesen had the game-winning goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (35-10-8), who rebounded from a 6-2 home loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday in their first game after the All-Star break.
"For us, it's just kind of finding our legs, finding our groove after that break," Carolina forward Paul Stastny said. "I think we were playing pretty well going into the break (seven straight wins) and now we're just slowly finding it more and more the past couple games, and I think we'll be able to get back to where we were before."
Brent Burns gave Carolina a 1-0 lead at 15:00 of the first period when he scored on a wrist shot through traffic from the point.
The Hurricanes went in front 2-1 at 2:33 of the second when Calvin de Haan's shot from the point deflected off Stastny in the left face-off circle.
Noesen gave the Hurricanes a 3-2 lead on the power play at 11:38 of the second period when he deflected Brady Skjei's point shot in front.
The Carolina Hurricanes have won eight of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Carolina is rolling right now. I wonder how much of a buyer they'll be at the deadline to finally break through the rest of the East. Hurricanes 4, Canadiens 1
Betting trends
Canadiens are 0-6 after winning 3 of 4 this season.
Canadiens are 7-4 this season after a game where 4 or fewer total goals were scored.
Hurricanes is 11-0 off a win against a division opponent this season.
Hurricanes are 15-1 this season after a one-goal win last game this season.
Projected lines
Canadiens:
Rafael Harvey-Pinard -- Nick Suzuki -- Josh Anderson
Evgenii Dadonov -- Kirby Dach -- Mike Hoffman
Jonathan Drouin -- Christian Dvorak -- Joel Armia
Michael Pezzetta -- Alex Belzile -- Jesse Ylonen
Mike Matheson -- Justin Barron
Jordan Harris -- David Savard
Chris Wideman -- Johnathan Kovacevic
Jake Allen
Rafael Harvey-Pinard -- Nick Suzuki -- Josh Anderson
Evgenii Dadonov -- Kirby Dach -- Mike Hoffman
Jonathan Drouin -- Christian Dvorak -- Joel Armia
Michael Pezzetta -- Alex Belzile -- Jesse Ylonen
Mike Matheson -- Justin Barron
Jordan Harris -- David Savard
Chris Wideman -- Johnathan Kovacevic
Jake Allen
Hurricanes:
Teuvo Teravainen -- Sebastian Aho -- Seth Jarvis
Andrei Svechnikov -- Jesperi Kotkaniemi -- Martin Necas
Jordan Martinook -- Jordan Staal -- Jesper Fast
Derek Stepan -- Paul Stastny -- Stefan Noesen
Jaccob Slavin -- Brent Burns
Brady Skjei -- Brett Pesce
Calvin de Haan -- Jalen Chatfield
Frederik Andersen
Teuvo Teravainen -- Sebastian Aho -- Seth Jarvis
Andrei Svechnikov -- Jesperi Kotkaniemi -- Martin Necas
Jordan Martinook -- Jordan Staal -- Jesper Fast
Derek Stepan -- Paul Stastny -- Stefan Noesen
Jaccob Slavin -- Brent Burns
Brady Skjei -- Brett Pesce
Calvin de Haan -- Jalen Chatfield
Frederik Andersen
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Montreal Canadiens - Carolina Hurricanes prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NHL projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
