The Red Wings have taken January by storm.
After suffering a horrid 3-9-1 record in December, Detroit has seemingly left the bad omens in 2023, going 5-0-1 ever since.
It’s reaped some rest benefits since Sunday’s 4-1 win over a popcorn muscled Toronto team on the second leg of a back-to-back.
Carolina has caught a pair of losses in its last four games since sewing a five-game win streak together.
The Hurricanes are 2-2 amidst their ongoing homestand ahead of Friday’s puck drop against the Wings.
The first meeting between these two resulted in a 2-1 Carolina victory on Dec. 14.
The Canes dominated five-on-five puck possession for the entirety of the game, but goaltending kept Detroit in the action with 37 of 39 shots on goal turned aside.
It was much of the same script in Monday’s 4-2 loss to the Kings, but some misplays in Carolina’s own end cost it three late goals before an empty net sealed the contest.
Alex Lyon has been much to thank for Detroit’s resurgence in Ville Husso’s stead.
Lyon is holding a .927 save percentage through the six-game points streak and has elevated himself to a No. 12 overall ranked 8.3 xGSA.
The weight is all on 34-year-old Antti Raanta’s shoulders in the Canes’ crease with both Frederik Anderson and Petr Kochetkov nursing their respective injuries.
Betting on the NHL?
Despite the strong structure in front of him that’s allowing the fewest shots against in the NHL, he’s been having an underwhelming year to say the least at -11 xGSA.
The Hurricanes play persistently aggressive hockey, but their goaltending has stopped just 88 percent of shots against.
All things considered, the Red Wings can’t keep winning with weak five-on-five play.
Raanta’s wobbles aside, I’m not sure Lyon can compensate enough for the colossal disparity in 200-foot hockey here.
The play: Hurricanes -1.5 (+130, DraftKings).
Credit: Source link
