Hurricanes vs Avalanche Prediction, Odds, Injury News & H2H History (Oct. 23)

• The Avalanche are -135 moneyline favorites over the Hurricanes on Thursday night at Ball Arena
• Colorado is 5-0-2 and hasn’t lost in regulation, while Carolina looks to bounce back from a 4-1 loss to Vegas
• See my Hurricanes vs Avalanche predictions below, plus odds, injuries and best bets for Thursday, October 23rd

The Hurricanes visit the Avalanche on Thursday night in a matchup between two of the hottest teams in the league. Colorado will wear its Quebec Nordiques throwback jerseys while Carolina brings out the Hartford Whalers throwbacks, making this a nostalgic night in Denver.

The Canes come to Ball Arena looking to snap a one-game skid, but they’ve historically struggled in Colorado. Carolina is just 3-14 in its last 17 meetings at altitude, which makes this a tough spot despite their strong 5-1 start.

Puck drop is set for 9:00 pm ET from Ball Arena in Denver, with coverage available on local broadcasts.

Hurricanes vs Avalanche Prediction

My Hurricanes vs Avalanche prediction starts with Colorado’s defensive dominance. The Avs allow just 1.86 goals per game, the best mark in the NHL. They’ve held opponents to one goal or fewer in five of seven games, which is an absurd stat line this early in the season.

Carolina’s offense has been rolling at four goals per game, tied for second in the league. But that number is misleading when you look at the competition. The Canes faced New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Jose, Anaheim and LA to start the year – none of which are elite defensive units. When they finally faced quality defense in Vegas, they managed just one goal in a 4-1 loss.

The Canes are also dealing with a massive injury on the blueline. Jaccob Slavin is out indefinitely, and he’s Carolina’s best penalty killer and shot blocker. His absence was glaring against Vegas, and it’ll be even more noticeable against Colorado’s firepower.

The red-hot Scott Wedgewood gets the start for the Avs with a 5-0-1 record, 1.84 GAA and .927 save percentage. Frederik Andersen counters for Carolina at 3-1 with a 2.46 GAA and .893 save percentage.

Hurricanes vs Avalanche 2025-26 Stats

The even-strength battle will be crucial. Colorado holds the best even-strength goal differential in hockey at +11, while Carolina is second at +9. Both teams do their damage at 5-on-5 rather than relying on special teams, which have struggled for both clubs this season.

Colorado’s power play is operating at 11.5% (down from 24.8% last season), while Carolina’s power play is converting at 9.5% (down from 18.7%). When the man-advantage units aren’t clicking, that’s when sharpshooters like Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas can make the difference at even strength.

MacKinnon continues his early run at the Hart Trophy odds, putting up five goals and five assists through seven games. Necas, the former Cane, is actually leading the Avs with 11 points while appearing on the scoresheet in all seven games.

Hurricanes vs Avalanche Best Bets

The trends point in different directions, but Slavin’s absence is the key factor. He’s Carolina’s most important defensive player, and his loss was evident against Vegas. The Avs are 5-0 in their last five games against Metropolitan Division opponents and 8-1 in their last nine Thursday games.

Per the NHL odds, Colorado is only -135, which feels short given the circumstances. The Avs haven’t lost in regulation all season, and they’re getting a Hurricanes team that’s banged up on the blueline and struggling vs top competition.

My Hurricanes vs Avalanche best bet is Colorado moneyline at -135. The Avs should extend their point streak and hand the Canes their second straight loss. Both teams remain among the favorites in the Stanley Cup odds market, but Colorado has the edge in this matchup with home ice and a healthier lineup.

Hurricanes vs Avalanche Injury News

Carolina is without Jaccob Slavin indefinitely, and Shayne Gostisbehere is questionable. Pyotr Kochetkov is also out indefinitely.

Colorado has Mackenzie Blackwood questionable, Samuel Girard out indefinitely, Joel Kiviranta out indefinitely, and Logan O’Connor out indefinitely, but Slavin’s absence is the biggest factor in this matchup.

Hurricanes vs Avalanche Head-to-Head

The over has hit in the last four meetings, with Carolina scoring four or more goals in each matchup. That’s their longest active streak against any opponent. But the location trends tell a different story – the home team is 20-7 in the last 27 meetings, and Carolina is just 3-14 in its last 17 trips to Colorado.

The under is 9-2 in Colorado’s last 11 home games and 6-1 in Carolina’s last seven road games against teams with winning records above .600.

Hurricanes vs Avalanche Odds

Colorado is currently a -135 moneyline favorite and is laying 1.5 goals on the puck line at +160 odds. Carolina comes back as a +115 underdog, while the total sits at 6.

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Odds as of Oct. 23rd. Check out the NHL matchups page for all of today’s games and betting information.