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Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils Picks and Predictions – January 17, 2026
The Carolina Hurricanes travel to Prudential Center on Wednesday night to face the New Jersey Devils in a key Metropolitan Division clash, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 PM ET. Both teams are fighting for position in a crowded Eastern playoff race. The Hurricanes come in slightly favored but not by much, and the Devils are looking to rebound from recent inconsistency.
Carolina is priced as a -115 moneyline favorite, while New Jersey sits at -106, making this close to a pick’em. On the puck line, Carolina -1.5 is +210, and New Jersey +1.5 comes with steep juice at -268. The total is set at 6 goals, with the Over at -112 and Under at -111 — a signal that oddsmakers expect a competitive, tightly contested game.
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Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils Odds
Here are the current lines for this critical divisional matchup. Always check for updates using the latest NHL odds — especially for goalie confirmations and injury news that can shift value.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Hurricanes | -115 | -1.5 (+210) | O 6 (-112) |
| New Jersey Devils | -106 | +1.5 (-268) | U 6 (-111) |
Carolina Hurricanes Betting Form
The Hurricanes continue to be one of the most defensively structured teams in the league. They’ve won six of their last nine and have been limiting opponents’ chances with suffocating puck pressure and excellent zone exits. At 5-on-5, Carolina ranks among the NHL’s best in shot suppression, high-danger chance prevention, and expected goals against.
Offensively, Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas continue to drive the top line, with depth scoring from Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Seth Jarvis helping balance the attack. The power play is slightly above league average, while the penalty kill remains a key weapon — ranked top five in the NHL. Special teams often make the difference in tight games, and this matchup could come down to who wins the special teams battle.
Goaltending remains stable, though not elite. Pyotr Kochetkov has held the crease lately and has been solid, but the Hurricanes’ system does a lot of the heavy lifting. Bettors looking to back Carolina should note that while they win often, they don’t always win big. The puck line at +210 has appeal, but only if you believe Carolina can get ahead early and force New Jersey to press. Be sure to monitor the Carolina Hurricanes injury report before placing bets, and review the full Carolina Hurricanes schedule and stats for more context.
New Jersey Devils Betting Form
The Devils remain a high-upside team with elite speed and offensive talent, but their current form has been streaky. They’ve dropped five of their last eight and continue to struggle defensively — especially without Dougie Hamilton anchoring the blue line. At 5-on-5, New Jersey gives up more high-danger chances than they create, and their goaltending hasn’t been able to bail them out consistently.
Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt are electric in transition, and Timo Meier has found his groove again, but defensive lapses and shaky special teams continue to hold the Devils back. Their power play has been middling and the penalty kill sits bottom-10 in the league — not a good combination against a team like Carolina that thrives on discipline and execution.
Goaltending is the biggest liability right now. Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid have both posted save percentages below .900 over the last two weeks. That puts a lot of pressure on the offense to produce 3–4 goals per night — and against Carolina, that’s a tall ask. From a betting standpoint, the puck line at -268 isn’t playable, and the moneyline at -106 feels risky unless you’re banking on a bounce-back. Check the New Jersey Devils injury report for key updates, and look at the New Jersey Devils stats and results to track recent trends.
Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils Matchup Breakdown
This is a classic battle of structure vs speed. Carolina wins games with defense, consistency, and systems. New Jersey tries to outrun their flaws with offense and shot volume. That contrast is why this game is tough to handicap from a totals perspective but offers an edge on the side.
Carolina holds the edge in:
- Even-strength shot suppression
- Penalty killing
- Net-front defense
- Coaching stability and in-game adjustments
New Jersey, on the other hand, has the higher ceiling offensively — especially if they can break through early. But Carolina has been excellent at taking away time and space from top skill players, and their aggressive forecheck could keep the Devils from establishing clean zone entries.
Unless New Jersey dominates the power play (unlikely), Carolina’s overall team game gives them a slight edge. It’s not flashy, but it’s effective — especially on the road.
If you’re still refining your betting process, visit our NHL betting guide for strategies around totals, puck line variance, and defensive metrics.
NHL Lines Before the Puck Drops
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Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils Predictions and Best Bets
This is one of those tight moneyline games where public action could sway the line slightly before puck drop, but Carolina deserves the edge. The -115 price is fair for a team that consistently wins with structure, and their ability to grind out close road games makes them a strong moneyline play in this spot.
The puck line at +210 is tempting but risky — Carolina doesn’t typically push for insurance goals and often wins by one. That said, if you expect a low-event game and believe New Jersey’s goaltending will collapse under pressure, the alternate line has value for smaller units.
The total is priced evenly at 6 with juice balanced, but there’s a lean to the Under. Carolina has played five straight Unders, and New Jersey’s offense hasn’t been explosive against elite defensive teams. The Under 6 (-111) is in play — just don’t expect a shootout unless special teams get wild.
Best Bet: Carolina Hurricanes moneyline (-115)
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