Ottawa Senators vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/18/2026

Game Time: 3:00 pm ET, Saturday, April 18, 2026

Venue:  Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC 

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Senators +124, Hurricanes -148; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Senators +125, Hurricanes -150; Over/Under:  6 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Senators +125, Hurricanes -150; Over/Under:  6 goals

Ottawa Senators:  44-27-11 (5th place, Atlantic Division)

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

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Ottawa Senators:  6-3-1 last 10

Carolina Hurricanes:  7-2-1 last 10

The Senators are entering the playoffs with 99 points, a 44-27-11 record overall, and they were 21-15-5 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in their last game, winning that one at home 3-1. Drake Batherson, Dylan Cozens, and Warren Foegele each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Claude Giroux led the team in assists with 2 while Claude Giroux led the team in shots on net in that game with 6. James Reimer was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 1 goal on 20 shots with 19 saves and a .950 save percentage. Their offense has scored 278 goals this season averaging 3.3 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 246 goals against them allowing 3 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 New York Islanders in their last game, winning that one on the road 2-1. Mark Jankowski and Nikolaj Ehlers each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Alexander Nikishin, Felix Unger Sörum, Joel Nyström, and Logan Stankoven each led the team in assists with 1 while Nikolaj Ehlers led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Brandon Bussi was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 1 goal on 29 shots with 28 saves and a .966 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 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 Senators have looked good in their games this season with their 44-27-11 record overall, but that record had them in the bottom half of their division in the East. They have been a good road team with their 20-15-5 road record this year, but they definitely haven't been at their best in those games. This is the 1st game of a 7-game series between the 1st seeded Hurricanes in the Metro and the 2nd Wild Card Senators from the Atlantic for the 1st round of the NHL playoffs. The Senators have looked good in their games lately and they have been playing playoff hockey for a while now since they were fighting for the last Wild Card spot in the final weeks of the season. They ended up getting it and they are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games, but they still aren't the hotter team coming into this series. The Hurricanes are the top seed in the East this year and they clinched a playoff spot a while ago, but they have still been rolling in their games lately. They are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and still ended the regular season with a 2-1 road win over the Islanders, winning games they didn't need at all. The Hurricanes are the stronger team here with one of the best home records in the NHL over the last few years and they have a lot more playoff experience to lean on too, so look for the Hurricanes to come out strong in this 1st game of the series. The best way to place a bet here is on the Hurricanes to win this game. 

Senators Hurricanes Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Saturday, April 18, 2026 (3:00 pm ET start time) is Hurricanes 4 Senators 1.

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Ottawa Senators: 128-124 (-15.1 units) on the moneyline in all games. 20-32 (-9.6 units) on the moneyline when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 75%). 70-77 (-8.2 units) on the moneyline against explosive offensive teams - scoring 3+ goals/game. 8-3 OVER as a road underdog. 10-3 OVER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 75%).

Carolina Hurricanes: 96-39 (+21.6 units) on the moneyline as a home favorite. 50-22 (+17.4 units) on the moneyline revenging a same season loss vs opponent. 96-62 (+5.6 units) on the moneyline against good passing teams - averaging 5 or more assists per game. 18-8 OVER as a home favorite of -200 or less. 21-9 OVER revenging a loss versus opponent as a favorite.

Ottawa Senators:  T. Kleven (D) Day To Day - Upper Body. N. Jensen (D) Out For Season - Lower-Body.

Carolina Hurricanes:  None.

“The game doesn’t really mean much, obviously. I mean, it’s already solidified to a point. So it’s a little tougher to get up for. I think since we found out we're playing first round, I think most of us are just thinking about that to be honest. Obviously, you want to go out there and play well, but it's tough, tough when knowing this weekend you're playing Game 1." - Drake Batherson after their win against the Maple Leafs in their game on Wednesday. 

“It was an interesting spot for Bussi to get thrown into. He was great tonight, one of his better games. He was solid and made some huge saves at critical times of the game. He was probably the difference-maker.” - Rod Brind’Amour after his team’s win against the Islanders in their game on Tuesday. 

LW Drake Batherson

C Tim Stutzle

RW Claude Giroux

LD Jake Sanderson

RD Artyom Zub

G Linus Ullmark

LW Andrei Svechnikov

C Sebastian Aho

RW Seth Jarvis

LD Jaccob Slavin

RD Jalen Chatfield

G Frederik Andersen

Points: Tim Stutzle (83)

Goals: Tim Stutzle (34)

Assists: Tim Stutzle (49)

GAA: James Reimer (2.42)

Points: Sebastian Aho (80)

Goals: Seth Jarvis (32)

Assists: Sebastian Aho (53)

GAA: Brandon Bussi (2.47)

Coaches:

Ottawa Senators: Travis Green (2nd season)

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