Updated Jan. 21, 2026, 11:30 p.m. ET
The Chicago Blackhawks (20-22-7) and Carolina Hurricanes (31-15-4) meet Thursday at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+ / hulu). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Blackhawks vs. Hurricanes and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
2024-25 season series: Hurricanes won 2-0
The Hurricanes swept the series last season, but both games were decided by a single goal, including a 3-2 win in regulation in Raleigh on Jan. 30, 2025, as the Under (6) cashed. Carolina has won 8 straight in the series since a 2-1 OTW by the Blackhawks at Lenovo Center (then PNC Arena) on May 6, 2021.
Chicago picked up a 2-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets Monday as short dogs (+120) at home as the Under (6) cashed. G Spencer Knight stopped all 32 shots, while Cs Jason Dickinson and Connor Bedard (ENG) provided the offense.
Carolina eased by the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 on Monday as moderate favorites (-190) as the Under (6.5) cashed. Red-hit RW Andrei Svechnikov scored again, as he has 5 goals and 7 points with a plus-3 rating during his 3-game goal-scoring streak.
Carolina has won 3 in a row, allowing 1 goal in each outing, while posting a 7-1-1 mark in the past 9 games, with the Under going 3-1 in the past 4 outings.
Watch the NHL on Fubo!Blackhawks at Hurricanes odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 11:18 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Blackhawks +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | Hurricanes -300 (bet $300 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blackhawks +1.5 (+100) | Hurricanes -1.5 (-120)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -118 | U: -102)Blackhawks at Hurricanes projected goalies
Spencer Knight (14-13-6, 2.53 GAA, .913, SV%, 3 SO) vs. Frederik Andersen (7-10-3, 3.25 GAA, .869 SV%)
Knight kicked aside 32 shots for his third shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over the Jets last time out Monday. He is 4-2-0 with a 2.15 GAA and .927 SV% with 1 SO in 6 starts in January. He stopped all 20 shots in a 6-0 shutout of the Hurricanes on Nov. 30, 2024, last season as a member of the Florida Panthers.
Andersen allowed a goal on 30 shots in a 4-1 road win against the New Jersey Devils. He is 2-1-1 with a 2.74 GAA and .884 SV% in 4 starts in January, as he is slowly starting to turn things around after a brutal start to the season.
Blackhawks at Hurricanes picks and predictionsPrediction
Hurricanes 3, Blackhawks 2
The Hurricanes (-310) will cost you more than 3 times your potential return, and that’s way too expensive for a single play. Even if you were to include Carolina in a multi-leg parlay, they suck a lot of value out of your betslip.
PASS.
The BLACKHAWKS +1.5 (+100) are a strong play at plus-money if you would like some insurance. Last season, both games were decided by a single goal, including a 4-3 OTL in Chicago on Jan. 20, 2025.
As an underdog, Chicago is 7-3 on the puck line in the past 10 games since Dec. 30, including 6 outright victories. Knight is going to make life tough on Carolina.
UNDER 6 (-102) might be the best play on the board.
The Under is 5-1 in the past 6 games for the Blackhawks, while going 7-2 across the previous 9 outings.
The total has gone low in 2 in a row, and 3 of the past 4 outings, while Carolina has allowed exactly 1 goal in each of the past 3 contests.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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