The Montreal Canadiens have had a slow start to the season, having played just two games in the first week. However, they’ve picked up right where they left off from the 2025-26 campaign, claiming three of four points after beating their rival Toronto Maple Leafs on opening night and then staging a four-goal comeback against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday to steal a point in overtime. They’ll get a chance for some payback in their home opener, as they face the Carolina Hurricanes, who eliminated them in the Eastern Conference Final last season. The defending Stanley Cup Champions have a 1-1-1 record to start the year, after losing their first two games before outlasting the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime on Saturday..
Nothing quite compares to the big-game atmosphere at the Bell Centre, and the historic rink will be rocking for the Canadiens’ home opener. Both teams are dealing with injury concerns, but the Hurricanes’ loss of Seth Jarvis to start the season has hurt them badly. While it seems unlikely that Carolina would start the season 1-2-1, the Canadiens have a deeper forward group with Jarvis out, and their goaltending has been better to start the season. Take Montreal to send their fans home happy on Tuesday.
Hurricanes vs Canadiens prediction: Canadiens ML (+100) available at time of publishing. Playable to -110.
