Montreal Canadiens vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 05/23/26

The woes of the Carolina Hurricanes franchise in the Eastern Conference Finals continued in Game 1 of this series on Thursday night. Following a 6-2 loss to the Canadiens to open the series, Carolina is now just 1-17 in their 18 Eastern Conference Finals games since winning the Stanley Cup in 2006. But Carolina hasn’t just been losing those games, they’ve been getting thoroughly out-played. In those 18 games, Carolina has a goal differential of minus-32. There’s not anything this year’s team can do about those previous records, but Thursday’s Game 1 was eye-opening for all the wrong reasons for the Hurricanes.

After allowing just 5 total goals in each of their first 2 playoff series against Ottawa and Philadelphia, the Hurricanes allowed 6 goals in Game 1. Montreal came out firing en route to a 4-goal 1st period, and that set the tone not only for Game 1, but for the series. The Canadiens continue to have the Hurricanes’ number, as Martin St. Louis’ squad is now 4-0 against the Hurricanes this season. Furthermore, the Habs have out-scored Carolina 21-10 in those 4 contests. Carolina is simply not a team to trust right now. Make it a small play, but back the Canadiens on the road.

Canadiens vs Hurricanes prediction: Canadiens ML (+175) available at time of publishing. Playable to +165.