Carolina Hurricanes vs Colorado Avalanche Prediction & Odds - 12/05/2024

The Carolina Hurricanes (16-8-1) welcome the Colorado Avalanche (14-12-0) to PNC Arena on Thursday night in what promises to be an explosive matchup between two of the NHL's most dynamic offenses.

The Hurricanes, averaging an impressive 3.72 goals per game, are looking to snap a three-game losing streak, while the Avalanche enter the contest fresh off a remarkable comeback victory against Buffalo where they overcame a four-goal deficit.

Carolina's top scorers Martin Necas and Sebastian Aho have combined for 20 goals and 45 assists this season, while Colorado's dynamic duo of Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen continue to drive their offense with 24 goals and 50 assists between them.

Recent history between these teams has been dominated by Colorado, who have won six of the last ten meetings, including a 6-4 victory in their most recent encounter.

The goaltending battle will feature Carolina's Pyotr Kochetkov (2.55 GAA, .900 save percentage) against Colorado's Alexandar Georgiev (3.54 GAA, .867 save percentage), with both netminders looking to make a statement in this cross-conference clash.

This compelling matchup sets the stage for what could be one of December's most entertaining hockey games, as both teams aim to strengthen their positions in their respective division races.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Colorado Avalanche prediction: who will win?

For tonight's Hurricanes vs Avalanche matchup, our predictive model gives the Hurricanes a 57.5% chance of defeating the Avalanche.

Carolina Hurricanes: 57.5% win probability

• Superior goal differential (+19 compared to Avalanche's -11)
• Better defensive record (74 goals against vs Avalanche's 97)
• Higher points percentage (33 points in 25 games vs 28 points in 26 games)

Colorado Avalanche: 42.5% win probability

• Poor defensive performance (97 goals against, among worst in Western Conference)
• Inconsistent recent form (WLLWL in last 5 games)
• Lower standing position (9th in Western Conference vs Hurricanes' 4th in Eastern)

At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.