Maple Leafs vs Hurricanes Pick – NHL Predictions & Odds 3/17/23

The Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs meet Friday in NHL action at the Scotiabank Arena. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

The Carolina Hurricanes are averaging 3.3 goals per game and are scoring on 21.4 percent of their power play opportunities. Sebastian Aho leads Carolina with 27 goals, Brent Burns has 39 assists and Andrei Svechnikov has 205 shots on goal. Defensively, the Carolina Hurricanes are allowing 2.5 goals per game and are killing 83.9 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Frederik Andersen has allowed 58 goal on 599 shots faced, and Antti Raanta has allowed 51 goals on 551 shots.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are averaging 3.4 goals per game and are scoring on 25.6 percent of their power play opportunities. William Nylander leads Toronto with 35 goals, Mitchell Marner has 62 assists and Auston Matthews has 254 shots on goal. Defensively, the Toronto Maple Leafs are allowing 2.7 goals per game and are killing 80.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Matt Murray has given up 62 goals on 640 shots faced, and Ilya Samsonov has allowed 79 goals on 946 shots.

The Hurricanes are 7-2 in their last 9 road games and 35-16 in their last 51 overall. The Maple Leafs are 55-22 in their last 77 home games and 7-2 in their last 9 Friday games. The under is 8-3-1 in Hurricanes last 12 overall. The under is 5-2-2 in Maple Leafs last 9 overall. The over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Toronto.

The Carolina Hurricanes continue to pile up the wins, and they’re always worth a look in the underdog role given their current form. However, I’d need plus money to consider the Canes here. We’re just not getting much bang for our buck. The Toronto Maple Leafs are a team I’ve backed all year, and it’s hard to turn them down at home with the cheap price. Must watch game, but I have to side with the Maple Leafs on their home ice.