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Colorado Avalanche vs Carolina Hurricanes Betting Preview
The Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes face off Thursday night at Ball Arena in a matchup honoring their shared past as the Quebec Nordiques and Hartford Whalers. Both teams will wear their retro uniforms as they look to keep their strong starts rolling in the NHL regular season.
Carolina enters 5-1-0 after a 4-1 loss in Vegas, while Colorado sits 5-1-2 following an overtime setback in Utah. The game, set for 9:00 PM ET on ESPN+, features two top-tier teams off to fast starts in their respective divisions.
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Line Movement and Odds
According to the latest NHL odds, Colorado opened as a -120 moneyline favorite and moved to -134 after sharp action hit the Avalanche early Thursday. Carolina sits at +112, with the puck line at -1.5 (+184) for Colorado and +1.5 (-228) for Carolina.
The total opened at 6.0 (Over -114, Under -108), and early betting reports indicate over 60 percent of public tickets are on the Over, but sharp money has leaned Under. Expect slight movement before puck drop as bettors continue to monitor both clubs on the NHL picks page
Matchup Breakdown
The Hurricanes have been balanced at both ends. Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis continue to drive scoring chances, while the defensive unit — even without Shayne Gostisbehere — remains disciplined. Carolina ranks fourth in the league in goals (24) and owns one of the NHL’s best power plays.
For Colorado, Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas headline a lethal top line. Necas has 11 points, including a game-tying goal Tuesday, and MacKinnon has six goals in seven games. Cale Makar leads the blue line with eight points and continues to generate offense from the point. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood has started every game and ranks third in goals against average among starters with five or more games.
The Avalanche lead the league in total shots (233) and own the edge in puck possession metrics, but Carolina’s speed and forecheck can challenge Colorado’s breakout. Expect a high-tempo contest between two efficient transition teams, with more coverage available in the NHL previews section
Injuries and Conditions
Carolina Hurricanes
- Shayne Gostisbehere (lower body) – out
- Pyotr Kochetkov (undisclosed) – out
- Jaccob Slavin (undisclosed) – day-to-day
Full details are on the Carolina Hurricanes injury report
Colorado Avalanche
- Mackenzie Blackwood (lower body) – questionable
- Logan O’Connor (hip) – out
- Joel Kiviranta (lower body) – out
- Samuel Girard (upper body) – out
View updates on the Colorado Avalanche injury report
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Best Bets and Prediction
Colorado is 5-0 straight up at home and 5-0 ATS overall this season. Carolina is 3-0 ATS as a favorite but has struggled to sustain pressure late in games.
Projection: Avalanche 4, Hurricanes 3
Best Bet: Avalanche moneyline (-134)
Secondary Lean: Over 6.0 (-114)
Both teams’ offensive depth and goaltending make this one of Thursday’s most attractive matchups.
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