Colorado Avalanche vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/03/2026

 

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Saturday, January 3, 2026

Venue:  Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Avalanche -142, Hurricanes +120; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Avalanche -140, Hurricanes +120; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Avalanche -140, Hurricanes +120; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

Colorado Avalanche:  30-2-7 (1st place, Central Division)

Carolina Hurricanes:  24-13-3 (1st place, Metropolitan Division)

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Colorado Avalanche:  9-0-1 last 10

Carolina Hurricanes:  5-4-1 last 10

The Avalanche are entering this game with 67 points, a 30-2-7 record overall, and they are 13-2-5 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the St Louis Blues in their last game, winning that one at home 6-1. Valeri Nichushkin led the team in goals scored with 3 as he recorded the hattrick, Nathan MacKinnon scored 2 goals, and Brock Nelson scored 1 goal for them in that one. Nathan MacKinnon and Josh Manson each led the team in assists with 2 while Nathan MacKinnon led the team in shots on net in that game with 7. Mackenzie Blackwood was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 1 goal on 13 shots with 12 saves and a .923 save percentage. Their offense has scored 159 goals this season averaging 4.1 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 88 goals against them allowing 2.3 goals per game.

The Hurricanes are entering this game with 51 points, a 24-13-3 record overall, and they are 13-7-1 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Montreal Canadiens in their last game, losing that one at home 7-5. Sebastian Aho led the team in goals scored with 2 while Andrei Svechnikov, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Alexander Nikishin each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Sebastian Aho led the team in assists with 3 while Andrei Svechnikov led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Brandon Bussi was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 6 goals on 22 shots with 16 saves and a .727 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 135 goals this season averaging 3.4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 122 goals against them allowing 3.1 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Avalanche listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Avalanche have looked great in their games this season with their 30-2-7 record overall which has them right at the top of their division in the West with the best record in the NHL. They have been a great road team too with their 13-2-5 road record this season. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have looked great in their games this season with their 24-13-3 record overall which has them right at the top of their division in the East. They have looked good on home ice too with their 13-7-1 home record this year. The Hurricanes are one of the best teams in the East and they usually are, but lately they haven't been at their best. They are only 5-4-1 in their last 10 games and they are off a bad 7-5 loss to the Canadiens in their last one. They have been giving up a ton of goals lately and that is going to be a big issue against the best team in the NHL right now. The Avalanche not only have the best record in the league, they have also been rolling in their games lately. They are off a 6-1 win over the Blues in their last one and they are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games. They have been scoring a ton of goals in their games too with the best offense in the NHL, but they also have one of the best defenses as they haven't been giving up many goals this season. The Avalanche are rolling right now and it is hard to see the Hurricanes being the team to stop them in their tracks, even with the home advantage. The best way to place a bet here is on the Avalanche to win this game. 

Avalanche Hurricanes Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Saturday, January 3, 2026 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Avalanche 5 Hurricanes 2.

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Colorado Avalanche: 138-83 (+7.6 units) on the moneyline in all games. 126-66 (+11.2 units) on the moneyline as a favorite. 74-33 (+13.4 units) on the moneyline against terrible defensive teams - allowing 3+ goals/game. 31-23 UNDER revenging a same season loss vs opponent. 

Carolina Hurricanes: 138-92 (-14.5 units) on the moneyline in all games. 47-34 (-11.7 units) on the moneyline in non-conference games. 57-47 (-9.6 units) on the moneyline when playing against a team with a winning record. 66-41 UNDER after playing a home game.

Colorado Avalanche:  J. Kiviranta (LW) Day To Day - Lower Body. G. Bayreuther (C) Day To Day - Upper-Body. L. O'Connor (RW) Out - Hip.

Carolina Hurricanes:  S. Gostisbehere (D) Day To Day - Groin. P. Kochetkov (G) Out - Undisclosed. J. Slavin (D) Out - Upper Body. S. Jarvis (C) Out - Upper Body. C. Legault (D) Out - Hand.

“He had a tough night. I don’t know how many saves he made, but he didn’t make too many. But he’s been great all year, so we’ve got to help him out at that point, not give up those odd-man rushes and things that create those scoring opportunities.” - Rod Brind’Amour after his team’s loss against the Canadiens in their game on Thursday.

“If you could bottle that. I'm just going to put it on our guys again. It's just preparation and being ready and fired up to play. You couldn't have drawn it up any better. It was pace, and execution was excellent. It was a great start. It carried us through the whole game.” - Jared Bednar after his team’s win against the Blues in their game on Wednesday.

LW Gabriel Landeskog

C Nathan MacKinnon

RW Martin Necas

LD Devon Toews

RD Cale Makar

G MacKenzie Blackwood

LW Nikolaj Ehlers

C Sebastian Aho

RW Andrei Svechnikov

LD Alexander Nikishin

RD Sean Walker

G Brandon Bussi

Points: Nathan MacKinnon (70)

Goals: Nathan MacKinnon (34)

Assists: Nathan MacKinnon (36)

GAA: Mackenzie Blackwood (2.07)

Points: Sebastian Aho (40)

Goals: Seth Jarvis (19)

Assists: Shayne Gostisbehere (25)

GAA: Pyotr Kochetkov (2.33)

Coaches:

Colorado Avalanche: Jared Bednar (10th season)

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