Hurricanes vs Devils

Sebastian Aho has been carrying the offensive load for Carolina as the Hurricanes roll into Newark on a three-game losing streak, while the Devils counter with two straight wins after dropping four of their previous six and now sit just five points back in the Metro at 22-17-2. The midway-point stakes are obvious: Carolina’s 24-14-3 mark keeps them atop a tightly packed division, but one more slip here would pull New Jersey deeper into the playoff conversation. On the roster front, updated ESPN lists confirm Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Nikolaj Ehlers, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes all active, yet Carolina is still without top goal-scorer Seth Jarvis and now must navigate the rest of the season without Pyotr Kochetkov, leaving Brandon Bussi as the likely starter on the back half of this road back-to-back, while New Jersey’s only notable absence is depth winger Evgenii Dadonov. Historically, Aho has produced well against the Devils, and the Canes already handled this matchup 6-3 on opening night behind a multi-goal effort from K’Andre Miller, suggesting their structure still matches up well with New Jersey’s high-skill core even when the Devils are healthy. Factor in Carolina’s strong 11-6-2 road record and the modest tax at -120, and I prefer the Canes on the moneyline in a “get-right” spot, grading Hurricanes -120 as a B+ pick: worthwhile edge and fair price, but recent form and goaltending uncertainty keep it shy of elite confidence. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 04/01/2026 09:30([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/preview/_/gameId/401803011))

Totals bettors get an intriguing clash of trends here, with Carolina’s last 10 games averaging 3.2 goals for and 3.5 against while New Jersey’s recent 5-4-1 run has been defined by low-scoring grinders at just 2.0 goals for and 1.9 against per night, all against a posted total of 6. The earlier meeting between these teams finished 6-3 Hurricanes, and now both sides are on the second leg of a back-to-back, with Carolina traveling in from a wild 5-3 loss to Colorado and the Devils coming off a home win over Utah, a setup that often erodes defensive structure and sharpness. With Brandon Bussi expected for Carolina after Frederik Andersen played last night, and Jake Allen likely for New Jersey after Jacob Markstrom started on Saturday, you have two capable but volatile goalies behind high-end offensive cores that feature Aho–Svechnikov–Ehlers on one side and Bratt–Hischier–Hughes on the other, plus power plays that can punish tired legs. While the Devils’ recent defensive stinginess is a yellow flag, the combination of past head-to-head scoring, both teams’ back-to-back fatigue and Carolina’s tendency to trade chances pushes me toward goals, so I lean Over 6 at -125 and grade it a B: reasonable edge with some push protection at six, but the juice and New Jersey’s recent low-event profile cap the confidence. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 04/01/2026 09:30([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/preview/_/gameId/401803011))

On the puckline, New Jersey’s profile as a tight-game specialist makes the +1.5 side more attractive than chasing Carolina to win by multiple goals at a big price, especially with the Devils 9-3-2 in one-goal contests and 11-7-2 at Prudential Center. Carolina’s three-game skid has featured blown leads and shaky third periods, including last night’s collapse against Colorado, and while they still carry the better overall underlying team and divisional position, that pattern hints more at a narrow win than a blowout on the road in another back-to-back spot. With Seth Jarvis sidelined and Kochetkov done for the season, the Hurricanes’ margin for error thins a bit, whereas New Jersey’s core of Bratt, Hischier and Hughes is intact and heating up with two straight wins at a time when every point matters in a Metro race that has the Devils just outside the current playoff line at the halfway mark. All of that pushes me toward a one-goal script in either direction, making Devils +1.5 (-250) the safer side of the puckline; I’ll grade it B-, acknowledging a high probability of cashing that is offset by steep juice and limited long-term value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 04/01/2026 09:30([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/preview/_/gameId/401803011))