For their first game of the 2026 calendar year, the Montreal Canadiens (21-12-6) will have a big challenge in Carolina tonight against the Hurricanes (24-12-3), who are currently the top team in the entire Eastern Conference. With that being said, the Habs will have their hands full in tonight’s game. However, the Hurricanes are coming off a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, whereas the Canadiens came back from down 2-0 in the final 5 minutes of the 3rd period to beat the Florida Panthers 3-2 in overtime.

Full team rosters and stats ahead of tonight’s game between the Canadiens and Hurricanes in Carolina (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS) #Habs: pic.twitter.com/5RKz7ULHTa

— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) January 1, 2026

The Habs announced that Jakub Dobes will get the start in goal tonight, after Jacob Fowler and Samuel Montembeault got the starts in the previous two games. Dobes’ last start came in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins back on December 21st, where he played fine but wasn’t able to do enough to secure the victory. His play this season has been good in most of his starts this year, but he has had multiple challenging performances through his first 20 starts this season. Usually the games that he struggled with were when he either hadn’t played for a long period of time or played too much over a small period of time.

Dobes starts, Struble in for Engstrom

— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 1, 2026

With that being said, since it’s been 10 days since he last played, there is a chance he could be rusty, but it could also be good, as he will come in well rested for the start. Dobes has a 12-5-3 record so far this season alongside an around-league-average. 894 save percentage and 2.90 GAA. It will be interesting to see which Dobes comes out for the Habs tonight.

As for the changes to the lineup for the Habs, Jayden Struble will draw in over Adam Engstrom against the Hurricanes. Engstrom didn’t have a bad game on Tuesday, which is why it may seem surprising that Struble will be going back into the lineup for tonight. However, it seems like the two defensemen are rotating in and out every game as of late. Therefore, it’s likely part of the rotation that the Canadiens’ coaching staff has decided for both of them. The fact that Arber Xhekaj is staying in the lineup and is no longer part of the rotation is a sign that his strong bottom pairing play is getting noticed by his coaches finally.

Brandon Bussi (13-1-1 | 2.08 GAA | .912 SV%) is in the starter’s crease for the #Canes to start the day. He’s in line to face Montreal for the first time in his young NHL career.

Seth Jarvis (rib injury) is working as an extra in a yellow jersey. Still no Shayne Gostisbehere… pic.twitter.com/QZgrVgNdZF

— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) January 1, 2026

One of the main reasons for the Hurricanes’ success this season is the emergence of goaltender Brandon Bussi, who has been phenomenal for them this season. Bussi has posted a 13-1-1 record with a 2.08 GAA and .912 save percentage in 15 games with the Hurricanes this season, after they claimed him off waivers from the Bruins in the preseason. He has been confirmed as the starter for the Canes tonight, which will give the Habs a huge test offensively. What also makes this harder is that this will be their first ever game against Bussi, which means they won’t have the book on how to beat him. This will likely mean that they will struggle against a hot and confident netminder.

Given Bussi’s numbers and the fact Dobes will be well rested for tonight’s game, the Under 6.5 Goals seems like a solid Total bet. The Canadiens are seen as road underdogs in tonight’s matchup with +145 odds. Now that the Hurricanes seem to have figured out their goaltender problems for the time being, they are much more dangerous on a nightly basis. The Habs won 2 of the 3 meetings last season, but the last game saw the Hurricanes rest half their regulars in the final matchup of the 2024-25 season.

The only NHL players with more assists than Lane Hutson (33) this season:

• Connor McDavid: 46 assists
• Macklin Celebrini: 40 assists
• Mikko Rantanen: 39 assists
• Leon Draisaitl: 37 assists
• Nate MacKinnon: 36 assists pic.twitter.com/smOpUBaBFi

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) January 1, 2026

Lane Hutson has recorded 6 assists in his last 3 games. Can he continue to stay hot tonight and continue to be a top playmaker for the Habs tonight? The line for Hutson to get 1+ assists is listed at -145, while 2+ assists is set at +250. Will you back Hutson getting any assists tonight?

What are your predictions for tonight’s Habs vs. Hurricanes game?