Karl Rasmussen
- What: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Boston Bruins – 2022-23 NHL Regular Season
- When: 1:00 p.m. EST on Friday, November 25, 2022
- Where: TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts
- How to Watch: ESPN+
The hottest team in hockey, the Boston Bruins, is set to host a formidable foe on Friday when they take on the Carolina Hurricanes. While the entire NHL got the day off on Thanksgiving, the Bruins and Hurricanes will drop the puck on a massive Friday slate. This figures to be one of the best matchups of the day and presents an intriguing rematch of their 2021-22 Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup, which the Canes got the best of last year.
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Hurricanes vs. Bruins Odds
 | Puck Line | Money Line | Total |
| Hurricanes | +1.5 (-195) | +133 | O6 (+104) |
| Bruins | -1.5 (+170) | -147 | U6 (-115) |
Heading into the matchup, it comes as no surprise that the Bruins have the edge over the Canes, at least in the eyes of the books. The Bruins (-147) are expected to take down the Hurricanes (+133), but the spread indicates a close game is on the docket, with Bruins -1.5 coming in at (+170). As for the goal total, in a matchup between a top defense and top offense, the books are anticipating 6.0 total goals, leaning toward the under (-115).
Bruins Best Bets
The Boston Bruins have been scalding hot to start the 2022-23 NHL season, winning 17 of their first 20 games and jumping out to a commanding lead in the Eastern Conference. Even the New Jersey Devils, who saw a 13-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday by the Maple Leafs, remain behind them in the standings. Boston’s 34 points are the most in the NHL, and it’s easy to see why based on the way their offense has been playing of late.
The Bruins’ offense has been unstoppable in 2022-23. Through their first 20 games, Boston has a league-high 82 goals, averaging more than 4.0 goals per contest. Leading the team in that regard has been David Pastrnak who has been one of hockey’s best players. In 20 games, Pastrnak has 30 points, including 13 goals and 17 assists. He ranks fourth in the NHL in total points, and also ranks fourth in goals scored. Connor McDavid leads both categories (16G, 35P).
Behind Pastrnark, the duo of Patrice Bergeron and Hampus Lindholm have 18 points each, while Jake DeBrusk and Brad Marchand each have 16. Marchand has played in just 12 games after missing the start of the year while recovering from surgery, but he’s made a massive impact already in his return.
Defensively, Boston is elite, too. The 45 goals they have conceded this year are the fewest in hockey, meaning they’ve scored the most and conceded the least — a solid recipe for success. With Charlie McAvoy back on the ice, the Bruins are looking like a well-oiled machine, and even the Hurricanes’ formidable defense shouldn’t slow them down.
I’m backing the Bruins to win this game banking on their recent form (despite a loss to Florida on Wednesday) to stifle the Canes, who were shutout 4-0 against the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday. Bruins Money Line (-147) is the pick here.
Hurricanes Best Bets
While the Hurricanes figure to be contenders in 2022-23, they’re in the midst of a brutal stretch right now, having lost each of their last four games. The biggest gut punch was the 4-0 defeat against the Arizona Coyotes, during which the Canes were seemingly incapable of putting a puck in the back of the net, despite a plethora of opportunities.
During their recent losing streak, the Canes’ offense has been abysmal. They’ve scored more than two goals in just one of those games, with a total of six goals during that span. Andrei Svechnikov has cooled off from the hot start that saw him jump out to an early NHL goalscoring lead, scoring just once in their four-game losing skid. It won’t be easy for him to get back on the board on Friday, as the Bruins’ defense has been outstanding all year long.
The Hurricanes have conceded a total of 56 goals this season, which ranks as the third-fewest in the Metro Division. Offensively, they have scored the same 56 goals, putting them at a dead-even goal differential. This whole game could be low-scoring, with two of the best defenses facing off. While the Bruins have a strong offense, Carolina’s poor form in the attacking zone may result in a more defensive-minded battle.
While I previously mentioned that I expect the Bruins to win, I also anticipate the Hurricanes to have trouble getting on the board. With the Carolina offense slumping, I don’t have high expectations for the Hurricanes on Friday, and can foresee another sub-three-goal outing for Carolina. Because of that, I’m rolling with Total Goals UNDER 6.0 at -115.
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