{"id":385036,"date":"2026-01-01T15:52:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T15:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/385036\/"},"modified":"2026-01-01T15:52:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T15:52:08","slug":"canadiens-at-hurricanes-odds-picks-and-predictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/385036\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadiens at Hurricanes odds, picks and predictions"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Montreal Canadiens<\/a> (21-12-6) and Carolina Hurricanes<\/a> (24-12-3) meet Thursday. Puck drop from Lenovo Center in Raleigh,\u00a0North Carolina, is set for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s<\/a> NHL odds around the Canadiens vs. Hurricanes odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2024-25 season series: Canadiens won 2-1<\/p>\n

The Canadiens earned a dramatic road win Tuesday, rallying past the Florida Panthers 3-2 in OT. They cashed as +110 underdogs and the Under (5.5) hit. C Nick Suzuki scored a power-play goal 3:24 into overtime after tying the game late in regulation. RW Cole Caufield also found the net as Montreal erased a 2-goal deficit in the final 5 minutes. The Canadiens improved to 6-1-3 over their last 10 games.<\/p>\n

The Hurricanes dropped their second straight game Tuesday night, falling 5-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Carolina failed to cash as a +138 road underdog and the total (6) pushed. C Mark Jankowski scored the lone goal, while G Frederik Andersen made 23 saves. Andersen fell to 0-6-2 in his last 8 starts, with his last win coming Nov. 6 against the Minnesota Wild.<\/p>\n

Watch the NHL on Fubo!<\/a><\/p>\n

Canadiens at Hurricanes odds<\/p>\n

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook<\/a>; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub<\/a> for a full list. Lines last updated as 10:04 a.m. ET.<\/p>\n

Moneyline (ML): Canadiens +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Hurricanes -190 (bet $190 to win $100)Puck line (PL)\/Against the spread (ATS): Canadiens +1.5 (-155) | Hurricanes -1.5 (+125)Over\/Under (O\/U): 6 (O: -115 | U: -105)Canadiens at Hurricanes projected goalies<\/p>\n

Sam Montembeault (6-6-1, 3.52 GAA, .863 SV%) vs.\u00a0Brandon Bussi (13-1-1, 2.08 GAA, .911 SV%, 1 SO)<\/p>\n

Montembeault picked up his only win of December Tuesday, stopping 28 of 30 shots in a 3-2 OT victory against Florida. The outing lowered his December GAA to 3.69 with an .861 SV%. He is 2-6-1 in his career against Carolina with a 2.91 GAA and .911 SV%.<\/p>\n

Bussi\u2019s impressive rookie run continues. He stopped 18 of 20 shots in a 3-2 OT win against the New York Rangers on Monday. He finished December at 6-0-1 with a 2.05 GAA and a .916 SV%, and has yet to face Montreal.<\/p>\n

Canadiens at Hurricanes picks and predictionsPrediction<\/p>\n

Hurricanes 3, Canadiens 1<\/p>\n

PASS.<\/p>\n

I like the Hurricanes (-190) to handle their business at home, but I prefer the odds on the puck line.<\/p>\n

BET HURRICANES -1.5 (+125).<\/p>\n

Carolina is built to win these matchups at home, and it has consistently handled the Canadiens by margin. The Hurricanes are strong at home, score in waves and usually cash when they\u2019re priced as solid favorites.<\/p>\n

Bussi has been stellar in net, and Carolina\u2019s structure travels well from period to period. When it gets to 3 goals — which it does often — it almost always wins comfortably. Montreal\u2019s issues are on the defensive side, especially around the net and on the penalty kill, and that\u2019s a bad combo against Carolina\u2019s pressure-heavy style.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t about chasing offense. It\u2019s about depth, discipline and Carolina wearing teams down over 60 minutes. If the Hurricanes play their game, this one shouldn\u2019t need OT. I\u2019m laying the puck line and expecting Carolina to pull away late.<\/p>\n

BET UNDER 6 (-105).<\/p>\n

These teams have played tight, low-scoring games against each other, with the Under hitting in 4 of the last 5 meetings. The Canadiens have stayed Under in 5 of their last 8, while the Hurricanes have trended lower recently as well. Montreal has allowed 2 goals or fewer in 3 of its last 5 wins, and Carolina has been more defensive at home. With solid goaltending expected on both sides, this sets up as a grind-it-out game that stays below the number.<\/p>\n

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com<\/a> and BetFTW<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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