Hurricanes Begin Stanley Cup Quest Against Senators in 2026 NHL Playoffs

Hurricanes Begin Stanley Cup Quest Against Senators in 2026 NHL Playoffs

The Carolina Hurricanes, champions of the Metropolitan Division, kick off their pursuit of a second Stanley Cup when they face the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of their 2026 NHL playoff series this Saturday. Carolina, last crowned champions in 2006, enters the playoffs with a solid record of 53-22-7, while Ottawa, securing a wild card spot, finished at 44-27-1 and holds a recent record of 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. The game is set to begin at 3 p.m. ET, with the Hurricanes positioned as the -152 favorites (risking $152 to win $100) against the Senators. The total goals over/under is set at 6. Key Betting Insights: Money Line Odds: - Carolina: -152 - Ottawa: +127 Puck Line: - Carolina -1.5 (+159) Predictions: - The SportsLine Projection Model has simulated the game 10,000 times and predicts the total goals will go Over 6. This outcome has occurred in three of the last four matchups between the teams. Player Projections: Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa): - Goals: 0.44 - Assists: 0.55 Seth Jarvis (Carolina): - Goals: 0.48 - Assists: 0.50 Goalies: - Linus Ullmark (Ottawa): 25.3 saves, 3.27 goals allowed - Pyotr Kochetkov (Carolina): 20.6 saves, 3.1 goals allowed With the model projecting a combined 6.6 goals in this matchup, betting enthusiasts should monitor the predictions closely before placing bets. For further insights and picks, consult the SportsLine model, which has shown profitable results this season.

Source: CBS Sports - 2026-04-17