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Hurricanes vs Devils Picks and Predictions – Sunday January 4, 2026
The Carolina Hurricanes head to the Prudential Center to face the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, January 4, 2026, with puck drop set for 7:00 PM ET on ESPN+. Carolina comes in at 24-14-3 and sitting on top of the Metro, while New Jersey is 22-17-2 and trying to climb back toward the division’s upper tier.
This price tells you it’s tight. Carolina is a short road favorite, and the total is parked at 6.0, which is always a “how does this game play at 5v5” question. Both clubs create a ton of shots, so the handicap comes down to finishing, special teams leverage, and which goalie situation looks stable once lineups lock.
Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should keep monitoring updated NHL odds as we get closer to puck drop.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Hurricanes | -121 | -1.5 (+200) | 6.0 (O -115 / U -106) |
| New Jersey Devils | +102 | +1.5 (-249) | 6.0 (O -115 / U -106) |
Carolina Hurricanes Betting Form
Carolina is coming off a 5-3 loss to Colorado, and it’s the kind of game that fits their profile: they can drive play and still get punished if they lose a couple of high-leverage moments. The Hurricanes generate a massive amount of volume, and when they’re rolling, the puck lives in the offensive zone. That’s why short losing streaks don’t scare me as much with this team, because the process usually stays strong even when the results wobble.
The key angle tonight is the ripple effect of injuries, especially in net and on the blue line. If Pyotr Kochetkov is out and Carolina has to lean on a different plan in goal, it can change how aggressive they are with pinches and neutral-zone pressure. You can still like Carolina to win, but it increases variance on the total because a couple of saves you normally get might not be there.
For recent game logs and matchup context, check Carolina Hurricanes stats and results. For late lineup clarity, monitor the Carolina Hurricanes injury report.
New Jersey Devils Betting Form
New Jersey is coming off a strong 4-1 home win and, at their best, they look a lot like Carolina in terms of identity. They generate chances, they skate, and they can string together long offensive-zone shifts when the puck support is clean. Being at home matters here because the Devils can manage matchups better and keep their best transition looks flowing off faceoffs and controlled exits.
The Devils’ recent total trend is interesting because it’s been leaning under, and a big part of that is whether they’re getting dependable goaltending and limiting broken plays. If Jacob Markstrom is in net again and looks sharp, New Jersey can keep this game in a narrow scoring band even while allowing shot volume, just by forcing shots from the outside and cleaning up rebounds.
For form, splits, and how they’ve performed at the Prudential Center, use New Jersey Devils schedule and stats. For availability updates, check the New Jersey Devils injury report.
Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils Matchup Breakdown
At 5v5, this should be a pace-and-chances game, even if it doesn’t feel like it on the scoreboard early. Carolina’s edge is how consistently they tilt the ice with forecheck pressure and shot volume, while New Jersey can answer with speed through the neutral zone and quick-strike transition when Carolina’s defense activates. If the Hurricanes are a little short-handed on the back end, those Devils rush chances become more dangerous than usual.
Special teams can swing the whole handicap. If this game is called tight, you’re going to see momentum spikes. Carolina’s ability to generate shots on the power play and New Jersey’s ability to counter with aggressive entries and quick puck movement both matter. The team that wins the special teams territory battle probably wins the game, even if the shot totals are close.
Goaltending is the variable I’m not treating as “locked” until starters are confirmed. Markstrom is coming off a strong outing, but you still want confirmation. On Carolina’s side, with Kochetkov listed out, the baseline risk on soft goals goes up a notch, and that matters more in a near pick’em than it would if Carolina were -170.
Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils Predictions and Best Bets
Carolina deserves respect as the slightly better all-around team, and it’s easy to justify the small favorite tag because they consistently create offense through volume and structure. Still, New Jersey at home is not a comfortable fade, especially when you add the matchup dynamic of transition chances against an aggressive Carolina system.
From a betting standpoint, I’m more interested in the total than picking a side at a thin price. Both teams generate a ton of shots, both have enough top-end finishers to turn a 2-2 game into a 4-3 game quickly, and any instability in Carolina’s goalie situation pushes the scoring expectation upward. With a 6.0, you also have push protection if it lands exactly on six.
If you want a side, I’d lean Carolina moneyline because they’re less dependent on one scoring line and they can win the territorial game for long stretches. But for me, the cleaner position is letting the game script do the work and backing goals.
Best Bet: Over 6.0 (-115)
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re playing multiple games on the card, start with the daily NHL picks page and compare this matchup to the rest of the slate in the NHL previews hub. That’s the fastest way to see where your strongest leans line up with the market.
If you prefer to follow proven long-term results, check the best handicappers and validate who’s hot right now on the handicappers leaderboard. For packaged plays and full-card access, you can also browse options on buy picks.
For bettors looking to sharpen process, the NHL betting guide is a useful reference for the angles that matter most at even strength and on special teams, and the Stanley Cup betting guide helps frame longer-term team trajectories when you’re tracking contenders through the season.
