After getting shut out for the second time this season in a 2-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, the Carolina Hurricanes have now mustered only four goals in their last four games. The ’Canes continue their three-game California road trip in San Jose tonight, with sportsbooks Sportsbook the Sharks as -150 home favorites with a total of 5.5.
- The total has gone OVER in six of the Hurricanes’ last eight games vs the Sharks (avg. combined score: 6.38).
- The Sharks are 6-2 SU in their last eight games at home.
- The Hurricanes are 2-14 ATS in their last 16 games.
Hurricanes vs Sharks Game Center
Hurricanes need a jump-start on offense
The Hurricanes have managed two goals or less on 10 occasions in their last 16 contests, going 6-7-3 SU in that span. Sebastian Aho was lighting the lamp with ease to start the campaign but has cooled off lately, as the Finn has just one point to go along with a minus-4 rating in his past four outings. Carolina’s power play has been especially bad, going 0-for-9 in the last two games – including 90 seconds of a 5-on-3 advantage vs the Kings.
San Jose was outscored 20-7 during a four-game skid (0-3-1) but won the final leg of its five-game road trip against the Montreal Canadiens by a score of 3-1. The Sharks, who are 5-6-2 in their last 13 games, will likely get Timo Meier back in the lineup tonight following a three-game absence with an upper-body injury. Captain Joe Pavelski improved his team-leading goal total to 16 with four to go along with two assists during a four-game point streak.
Hurricanes have been on an UNDER tear
The OVER continues to be a hot bet when the Hurricanes and Sharks get together, as six of Carolina’s past eight meetings with San Jose have eclipsed the closing total with an average combined score of 6.4 goals. The OVER is also 7-2 in the Sharks’ previous nine with a closing total of 5.5 or less.
Bettors may want to take that trend with a grain of salt, however, due to the Hurricanes’ penchant for going UNDER lately. As a result of their low-scoring ways, the Hurricanes have gone UNDER in eight of their last nine games. Carolina has scored five goals only once since October 14.
When it comes to the puckline, fading the Hurricanes has been an extremely profitable strategy of late. Carolina is 2-14 on the puckline in its last 16 contests entering tonight’s game. At Sportsbook, the +1.5 Hurricanes puckline comes in with -220 juice.
