Blackhawks vs. Hurricanes Odds
| Blackhawks Odds | +350 |
| Hurricanes Odds | -450 |
| Over / Under | 5.5 -120o / +100u |
Here's everything you need to know about the Chicago Blackhawks vs. Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, February 19 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
The Hurricanes return to PNC Arena on Monday, opening a three-game home stand against Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks.
Sitting comfortably in second place in the Metropolitan Division, the Hurricanes have won seven of their last nine games and are fine-tuning in preparation for what they hope will be a long playoff run.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks are happy to have Bedard back on board following his injury. He proved his value once again when he helped his team snap a long losing skid Saturday.
On paper, there's no doubt Carolina is the better team. And they're beasts at home, while Chicago has a tough time winning on the road.
But Carolina could be tired after a long trip home from out West. That could open up an opportunity for the Blackhawks to keep it closer than the oddsmakers anticipate.
Let's get to our Blackhawks vs. Hurricanes preview and pick.
Chicago Blackhawks
On Saturday, Chicago snapped an 0-7-1 losing streak with a 3-2 regulation win over the Ottawa Senators.
Jason Dickinson scored the game-winner, but Bedard still earned first-star honors thanks to a goal and an assist — as well as a goal that was called back for offsides. The rookie star has needed just two games to get back up to speed after missing nearly six weeks with a fractured jaw.
But even with Bedard in the lineup, the Blackhawks have had a tough time winning on the road this season. They're 4-23-1 away from the United Center, scoring just 1.79 goals per game and giving up 4.04.
Goaltender Petr Mrázek has arguably been Chicago's second-most valuable player this season behind Bedard. But his stats reflect the team's: a .925 save percentage and 2.47 goals-against average on home ice compared to .892 and 3.51 on the road.
Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina has more than twice as many points as Chicago this season — 69 vs. 33. But despite playing on home ice, the Hurricanes will face a fairly significant schedule disadvantage Monday.
They'll be playing their third game in four nights and will be traveling all the way back from Vegas after a 3-1 win over the Golden Knights that finished more than seven hours after the Blackhawks' win in Chicago on Saturday.
Spencer Martin earned the win in Vegas, so the Hurricanes will likely turn back to Pyotr Kochetkov on Monday. He's 3-2-0 since returning from a concussion after the All-Star Break, but his personal numbers are good, with just nine goals allowed in those five games.
Carolina's success is built off a strong puck-possession component, controlling 56.09% of expected goals at 5-on-5. Special teams are also strong, and the Hurricanes are a perfect 17-for-17 on the penalty kill over their last five games.
Offensively, keep an eye on Seth Jarvis, who has grown into one of Carolina's most consistent scorers. His 25 points in 27 games since Dec. 11 are second only to Sebastian Aho (35 points), and his plus-10 rating is tops on the team, underscoring why coach Rod Brind'Amour leans as hard as he does on the affable 22-year-old.
(Very soon, the Tar Heel State will launch North Carolina sports betting fully online. Keep up with the latest developments here.)
Blackhawks vs. Hurricanes
Betting Pick & Prediction
Even with Carolina's challenging schedule, the oddsmakers have utmost faith in the home side for Monday's game. Their 17-6-4 record at PNC Arena certainly points in that direction, and the Hurricanes opened at -345 on the moneyline, which has jumped as high as -455 by Sunday night.
But the Hurricanes are a team that often does just enough to win. As good as they are, only two of their last six home games have been multi-goal victories.
It's the first meeting of the year between Chicago and Carolina, and the tired Hurricanes may take their opponent lightly. This creates a rare situation where a puck line bet on the underdog could offer the best value.
The Blackhawks surprised the Senators on Saturday. The Hurricanes are definitely stiffer competition, but at solid plus money, back Bedard and his boys to keep it close.
Pick: Blackhawks +1.5 (+148 at BetRivers; Play to +110)
