Montreal Canadiens vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction, Preview and Odds - 05/21/2026

Game Time: 8:00 pm ET, Thursday, May 21, 2026

Venue:  Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC

Where to Watch:  TNT, HBO Max, truTV

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Canadiens +164, Hurricanes -198; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Canadiens +165, Hurricanes -200; Over/Under:  6 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Canadiens +165, Hurricanes -200; Over/Under:  6 goals

Montreal Canadiens:  48-24-10 (3rd place, Atlantic Division)

Carolina Hurricanes:  53-22-7 (1st place, Metropolitan Division)

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Montreal Canadiens:  6-3-1 last 10

Carolina Hurricanes:  9-0-1 last 10

The Canadiens are entering the playoffs with 106 points, a 48-24-10 record overall, and they were 24-9-8 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Buffalo Sabres in their last game, winning that one on the road 3-2 in overtime. Alex Newhook, Phillip Danault, and Zachary Bolduc each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Alexandre Carrier, Alexandre Texier, Kaiden Guhle, Lane Hutson, and Nick Suzuki each led the team in assists with 1 while Cole Caufield led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Jakub Dobeš was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 39 shots with 37 saves and a .949 save percentage. Their offense has scored 283 goals this season averaging 3.5 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 256 goals against them allowing 3.1 goals per game.

The Hurricanes are entering the playoffs with 113 points, a 53-22-7 record overall, and they were 29-10-2 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Philadelphia Flyers in their last game, winning that one on the road 3-2 in OT. Jackson Blake led the team in goals scored with 2 while Logan Stankoven scored 1 goal for them in that one. Taylor Hall led the team in assists with 3 while Shayne Gostisbehere led the team in shots on net in that game with 6. Frederik Andersen was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 17 shots with 15 saves and a .882 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 296 goals this season averaging 3.6 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 240 goals against them allowing 2.9 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Hurricanes listed as a big favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Hurricanes have looked great in their games this season with their 53-22-7 record overall which had them right at the top of their division in the East with one of the best records in the entire NHL. They have looked great on home ice too with their 29-10-2 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Canadiens have looked good in their games this season with their 48-24-10 record overall which had them in the top half of their division in the East. They have been a great road team too with their 24-9-8 road record this year. This is game 1 of a 7-game series between the 1st seeded Hurricanes from the Metro Division and the 3rd seeded Canadiens from the Atlantic Division for the Eastern Conference Finals of the NHL playoffs. The Canadiens are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and they have looked good in both rounds so far. They managed to get by both the Lightning and the Sabres while being the lower seed in both rounds. As good as they have looked though, they haven't really been able to string together many wins in the playoffs, usually losing their next game right after a win, and that is going to work against them in this one. The Hurricanes are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games and they have been rolling lately. They swept the Senators in the 1st round and swept the Flyers in the last round, so they have a ton of momentum on their side now with 8 wins in a row. They also had one of the best home records in the NHL this season and they have a ton of rest on their side too. The Canadiens aren't in a great situation here with a shorter turnaround to start this round and they have to be tired after playing back-to-back 7-game series' too. Look for the Hurricanes to take advantage of that at home and continue rolling to start this series. The best way to place a bet here is on the Hurricanes to win this game and on the puckline. 

Canadiens Hurricanes Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Thursday, May 21, 2026 (8:00 pm ET start time) is Hurricanes 4 Canadiens 2.

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Montreal Canadiens: 126-138 (+9.4 units) on the moneyline in all games. 75-79 (+21.8 units) on the moneyline as an underdog of +100 to +200. 33-35 (+15.8 units) on the moneyline when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 75%). 11-4 OVER against good possession teams-averaging 3+ more shots on goal than opp.

Carolina Hurricanes: 96-73 (-16 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -200 or less. 102-72 (-21.2 units) on the moneyline off a win in their previous game. 125-81 (-13.4 units) on the moneyline against poor power play killing teams - opp score on over 17.5% of chances. 26-16 OVER revenging a home loss versus opponent.

Montreal Canadiens:  P. Laine (RW) Out - Abdomen.

Carolina Hurricanes:  None.

“Last year's experience in the playoffs (a first-round loss in five games to the Washington Capitals), what we're going through right now, you can't buy that. It's amazing. I'm so happy for the players to live that. It's unreal to play in the NHL, but to get to live this do-or-die situation, in terms of moving on or you're done, scoring the big goal in overtime, that feeling that a player has, it's unbelievable. I'm so happy that we're getting to live that.” - Martin St Louis after his team’s win against the Sabres in game 7 of that series on Monday. 

"How we've gone about it, we're getting some huge performances. Everybody is doing it. It's how we have to get it done. Go down the list, every guy had his hand in these two series wins." - Rod Brind’Amour after his team’s win against the Flyers in game 4 of that series on Saturday.

LW Cole Caufield

C Nick Suzuki

RW Juraj Slafkovský

LD Mike Matheson

RD Alexandre Carrier

G Jakub Dobes

LW Andrei Svechnikov

C Sebastian Aho

RW Seth Jarvis

LD Jaccob Slavin

RD Jalen Chatfield

G Frederik Andersen

Points: Nick Suzuki (101)

Goals: Cole Caufield (51)

Assists: Nick Suzuki (72)

GAA: Jacob Fowler (2.43)

Points: Sebastian Aho (80)

Goals: Seth Jarvis (32)

Assists: Sebastian Aho (53)

GAA: Brandon Bussi (2.47)

Coaches:

Montreal Canadiens: Martin St. Louis (5th season)

Carolina Hurricanes: Rod Brind'Amour (8th season)