Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
The Utah Hockey Club are slipping out of playoff contention, while the Carolina Hurricanes are fiercely battling for the top spot in the East, showing no signs of being hindered by away games. However, they face the unique challenge of playing in the mid-altitude environment of Salt Lake City. How will they adapt?
Utah Hockey Club
In theory, the altitude should serve as an advantage for the new franchise, yet they've only capitalised on it in half their six home games so far. It's a small sample size, and they've been off the radar since late October when they last hosted an opponent. That Calgary Flames win doesn’t fully count, as the Canadians play at an elevation over 1,000 metres themselves, but the Utah Hockey Club managed a decisive victory (5:1). On the other hand, San Jose is nearly at sea level (26 m), but the Sharks came away with an overtime win (5:4). Worth noting, Raleigh in North Carolina also sits under 100 metres.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes have also tested themselves at altitude, having travelled to Denver, which is even higher (1,609 m). It didn’t bode well for them — they fell 4:6, losing in the second period (2:5). Afterwards, the Hurricanes ventured into the desert and handed the Vegas Golden Knights their first home defeat of the season (5:2).
Utah Hockey Club vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction
Had the franchise (Utah Hockey Club) remained in Arizona, they would have likely struggled. Their last two encounters in the desert ended in heavy defeats (1:6 and 1:5). However, we won't predict a rout for the Utah Hockey Club this time, as the Carolina Hurricanes have only lost two away games out of eight. We foresee a victory, typically accompanied by an empty-net goal, making a (-1.5) handicap in favour of the Hurricanes a suitable bet.
