Carolina Hurricanes - Ottawa Senators predictions and free betting tips [11/10/2023]

And so, the NHL makes a comeback. On the second match day, the 12th of October, there's a game lined up between Carolina and Ottawa at the PNC Arena. This promises to be a nail-biter and neither side will want to concede. Let's look at the current form of both teams and make a sound bet that could positively influence our bank balance. Let's dissect!

Carolina

Last season, Carolina turned quite a few heads with an impressive overall record of 52-21-9, having gathered a massive 113 points. They made it to the sterling 2nd position in the Eastern Conference and qualified for the playoffs. However, their campaign was seen snapping in the conference finals by Florida, with a 4-0 loss. Regardless, the Hurricanes are currently considered the frontrunners to win the Stanley Cup according to the bookmakers.

The Hurricanes are known for their robust defensive pressing, which at times earns some slack due to a lack of the 'wow' factor in their attack. However, they demonstrated in the playoffs that they can still effectively play without key players like Andrei Svechnikov, who missed out due to a severe injury. Now, as the forward is gradually recovering from his injury, we can expect a stronger performance in the upcoming season. The combined efforts of Michael Bunting, Dmitry Orlov, Seth Jarvis, and a fully fit Svechnikov could transfigure Carolina into one of the mightiest teams in the upcoming Eastern Conference.

Ottawa

Ottawa could only muster a season record of 39-35-8 last season, earning a total of 86 points. This was not enough to secure a playoffs berth, leaving them stranded at the 11th position in the eastern conference. The Senators have been facing chronic issues because of their goalkeeper. However, during the off-season they managed to secure the services of the Finnish goalie, Joonas Korpisalo. His stint with Columbus and the Kings saw him more playing second fiddle. Ottawa however, took a chance on him and paired him up with Anton Forsberg. Now, the Senators' fanbase will have high hopes from Korpisalo and will be expecting him to be the missing cog in the wheel that can improve their defensive abilities while help them make the playoffs.

Head-to-Heads

Last season these clubs met thrice. In the first encounter, Carolina claimed victory with a score of 4:0. They won the second meeting as well, but this time in overtime with a 3-2 outcome. In their last face-off though, Ottawa managed to edge out the Hurricanes by the same score of 3:2.

Prediction

I would place my bet on Carolina winning in regular time in the upcoming game. The team is a potential contender for this season's championship and it is unlikely that Ottawa, with their new goalie, could pose any serious challenge.