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Canadiens vs. Hurricanes prediction: Why Carolina is favored to win Thursday's NHL matchup [1/1/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Montreal Canadiens vs Carolina Hurricanes predictions for NHL Thursday.
The Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens are scheduled to meet in the NHL at Lenovo Center on New Year's Day, with puck drop at 7:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulations, Dimers' advanced NHL model projects the Hurricanes as the most likely winner of the Canadiens vs. Hurricanes game.
This article offers a closer look at Thursday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Habs vs. Canes prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using powerful machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the result of Thursday's NHL matchup between the Canadiens and Hurricanes 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our independent predictive model currently gives the Hurricanes a 59% chance of beating the Canadiens.
According to our model, the Canadiens (+1.5) have a 63% chance of covering the puck line, while the 6-goal over/under has an equal 50-50 chance of hitting.
Canadiens vs. Hurricanes odds
We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Canadiens | Hurricanes |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-175) | -1.5 (+152) |
| Moneyline | +140 | -156 |
| Total | o6 (-118) | u6 (-102) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Canadiens vs. Hurricanes picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Canadiens +1.5 | -175 |
| Moneyline | Canadiens | +140 |
| Total | Under 6 | -102 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 6 total goals.
Canadiens vs. Hurricanes player props
Who will score a goal in Canadiens vs. Hurricanes?
According to our model, Sebastian Aho is most likely to score an anytime goal in Canadiens vs. Hurricanes.
Our projections give Aho a 32.8% chance of scoring a goal at Lenovo Center, while the star is a 6.6% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Montreal Canadiens
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Cole Caufield | 32.5% |
| Nick Suzuki | 29.8% |
| Ivan Demidov | 25.9% |
| Oliver Kapanen | 24.1% |
| Zachary Bolduc | 23.0% |
Carolina Hurricanes
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Sebastian Aho | 32.8% |
| Nikolaj Ehlers | 32.4% |
| Jackson Blake | 26.9% |
| Andrei Svechnikov | 26.7% |
| Taylor Hall | 23.9% |
First goal scorer predictions
Montreal Canadiens
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Cole Caufield | 6.9% |
| Ivan Demidov | 5.3% |
| Nick Suzuki | 4.9% |
| Zachary Bolduc | 4.2% |
| Oliver Kapanen | 3.9% |
Carolina Hurricanes
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Sebastian Aho | 6.6% |
| Nikolaj Ehlers | 6.5% |
| Jackson Blake | 5.0% |
| Andrei Svechnikov | 4.9% |
| Logan Stankoven | 4.0% |
Habs vs. Canes game-day updates and essential details
Thursday's game between the Hurricanes and Canadiens at Lenovo Center is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM ET.
- Who: Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes
- Date: Thursday, January 1, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
- Venue: Lenovo Center
Conclusion
We predict the Hurricanes, with a 59% win probability, will likely beat the Canadiens on New Year's Day.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Canadiens vs. Hurricanes insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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