Hurricanes Chasing Third Straight 100-Point Season Under Rod Brind'Amour

With 22 games to go in the 2023-24 NHL season, the Carolina Hurricanes are looking to secure themselves a playoff spot and another 100-point campaign.

Carolina has run the Metropolitan Division for two straight seasons and has finished with over 110 points in each. As they try to get back the lead in the division, they will also try to hit their 100 points once more under head coach Rod Brind'Amour. Can the Carolina Hurricanes hit their point total of 106.5 set by FanDuel Sportsbook, or will they fall short?

Let's dive into the Hurricanes' chances.

All NHL odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Lines may change after this article is published.

Hurricanes Regular Season Point Total Odds

Hurricanes Over/Under 106.5 Points

• Over: -113
• Under: -113

Why Hurricanes Could Finish With Over 106.5 Points (-113)

Reaching over 106.5 points isn't something new to the Hurricanes; it's actually expected at this point in their run under Brind'Amour.

In their last two seasons, the Hurricanes have finished with 116 (2021-22) and 113 points (2022-23). The track record alone backs them up to hit the over, but the way they've played this season alone gives me the confidence that they can.

Few teams have been as good as Carolina statistically. The Hurricanes dominate in five-on-five situations. They lead the NHL in Corsi for per 60 minutes (CF/60) at 70.91 in five-on-five situations -- 2.65 higher than the next best team. If that's not good enough, their offense ranks fifth overall with 2.85 expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) in five-on-five situations as well. If they scored at a higher rate (2.57 GF/60), they'd be running away with their division again.

Going to all situations, no team nears the Hurricanes in terms of their defense. They're sporting a league-leading 47.56 Corsi against per 60 minutes, a 5.75 edge over the Florida Panthers, the second-best ranked team opportunity-wise. They're facing the least shots against (25.16) and are now holding opponents to just 2.69 goals against per 60 minutes (GA/60).

It's the GA/60 that is a major improvement in the second half of the season, as that number is dwindled down to 2.14 GA/60 in their last 30 games -- the best in the NHL. A big reason has been the emergence of Pyotr Kochetkov, who has put their goaltending fears to rest for the most part.

Domination on both ends of the ice is apparent, and if they can keep it up, there's no reason to think they can't get over 106.5 points with ease. They're 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, so they're feeling it at the right time.

Why Hurricanes Could Finish With Under 106.5 Points (-113)

Time, schedule, and the uncertainty of an NHL season. That's what can keep the Hurricanes under the 106.5-point total.

When I say time, it's simple. There isn't much time left on the season with just 22 games left. Carolina sits here with a record of 36-18-6, good for 78 points. They'll need to win 15 games in the 22 remaining to hit the over (or count on some overtime losses in there -- that would help out also).

It's certainly not an impossible ask, however, as they've won 15 games in their last 22, earning a total of 32 points with a 15-5-2 record. Replicating that, especially if the top seed in the Metropolitan is out of grasp by a certain point with how the New York Rangers have been playing themselves.

Another potential reason that they may be under 106.5 points is because of their remaining schedule. As the standings sit, they have nine games against expected playoff teams. Carolina will face the Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs (twice), Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, and Boston Bruins (twice).

Finally, the other reason they may not be able to secure the over is because of the uncertainties of the NHL season. Their goaltending was a massive problem to open the year. While Kochetkov has been the answer, he did miss time earlier this season, and hockey can be a grueling, unpredictable sport. Carolina is without both of the goalies they started the season with due to injuries, so you can't rule any possibilities out.

Nonetheless, they're healthy everywhere else right now and the hope is that it can stay that way. If it does, it's hard to put much doubt on this team and what they're capable of from here on out.

The over is looking promising with how they've played in the second half of this season. It took them some time, but the Hurricanes feel one of the best teams in the league and should be able to near their usual output by season's end.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.