Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/02/2026

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Thursday, April 4, 2026

Venue:  Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC 

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Blue Jackets +154, Hurricanes -185; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Blue Jackets +155, Hurricanes -185; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Blue Jackets +155, Hurricanes -185; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Columbus Blue Jackets:  38-25-12 (4th place, Metropolitan Division)

Carolina Hurricanes:  47-21-6 (1st place, Metropolitan Division)

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Columbus Blue Jackets:  5-4-1 last 10

Carolina Hurricanes:  6-4-0 last 10

The Blue Jackets are entering this game with 88 points, a 38-25-12 record overall, and they are 18-15-4 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Carolina Hurricanes in their last game, losing that one at home 5-2. Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Mason Marchment led the team in assists with 2 while Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli each led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Jet Greaves was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 4 goals on 30 shots with 26 saves and a .867 save percentage. Their offense has scored 239 goals this season averaging 3.2 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 231 goals against them allowing 3.1 goals per game.

The Hurricanes are entering this game with 100 points, a 47-21-6 record overall, and they are 26-10-2 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Columbus Blue Jackets in their last game, winning that one on the road 5-2. Nikolaj Ehlers, Andrei Svechnikov, Jordan Martinook, Logan Stankoven, and Shayne Gostisbehere each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Nikolaj Ehlers led the team in assists with 2 while Nikolaj Ehlers, Jaccob Slavin, Sebastian Aho, Jackson Blake, and Sean Walker each led the team in shots on net in that game with 3. Brandon Bussi was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 25 shots with 23 saves and a .920 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 263 goals this season averaging 3.6 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 218 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 47-21-6 record overall which has 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 26-10-2 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets have looked good in their games this season with their 38-25-12 record overall which has them in the top half of their division in the East. They haven't been a great road team though with their 18-15-4 road record this year. The Blue Jackets are currently holding down the last Wild Card spot in the East, but they have looked terrible lately and are barely hanging onto that spot by a thread. They are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, but they have lost 4 games in a row now and they are off a 5-2 loss at home to the Hurricanes in their last one. The Blue Jackets have been in winning positions during this losing streak too, but they squandered their leads in those games and now look like a team that is trying to spiral it's way out of the playoffs. The Hurricanes have not only been the best team in the East this season, but they have also been one of the best home teams in the NHL and that has been a common theme for them over the last few years. They have also looked a lot better lately as they are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games and coming off that 5-2 win over the Blue Jackets, so they will be able to do the same here on home ice this time. The best way to place a bet here is on the Hurricanes to win this game and on the puckline.

Blue Jackets Hurricanes Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Thursday, April 4, 2026 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Hurricanes 4 Blue Jackets 1.

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Columbus Blue Jackets: 27-33 (+5.8 units) on the moneyline revenging a blowout loss vs opponent of 3 goals or more. 23-28 (+10.2 units) on the moneyline when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 75%). 21-31 (+4.1 units) on the moneyline versus very good teams - outscoring their opponents by 0.5+ goals/game. 19-8 OVER after playing 3 consecutive home games.

Carolina Hurricanes: 161-103 (-11.2 units) on the moneyline in all games. 153-92 (-9.2 units) on the moneyline as a favorite. 90-70 (-31 units) on the moneyline off a win in their previous game. 41-28 OVER as a home favorite of -200 or less.

Columbus Blue Jackets:  I. Lundestrom (C) Day To Day - Undisclosed. M. Olivier (RW) Out - Upper Body. D. Voronkov (LW) Out - Hand. D. Severson (D) Out - Upper-body. B. Smith (D) Out - Knee.

Carolina Hurricanes:  P. Kochetkov (G) Out - Hip.

“Clearly penalty killing is an issue and we've got to clean that up. It's cost us the last couple games, but 5-on-5 we're thrilled with the way we're playing. Their goalie made some big saves at the right time, but again the effort is there, guys are putting it all out and that's all we ask. We'll live and die with being aggressive, we'll live and die with that effort, and it didn't go our way tonight.” - Rick Bowness after his team’s loss against the Hurricanes in their game on Tuesday. 

“It's easier, honestly, because you don't have to prepare for another team. So, you play them, you go over the game, you know what's going on versus changing gears and having to start over. So, it's a little easier for the coaches. I don't think the players care one way or another.” - Rod Brind’Amour after his team’s win against the Blue Jackets in their game on Tuesday. 

LW Mason Marchment

C Adam Fantilli

RW Kirill Marchenko

LD Zach Werenski

RD Dante Fabbro

G Jet Greaves

LW Andrei Svechnikov

C Sebastian Aho

RW Seth Jarvis

LD Jaccob Slavin

RD Jalen Chatfield

G Brandon Bussi

Points: Zach Werenski (78)

Goals: Kirill Marchenko (26)

Assists: Zach Werenski (57)

GAA: Jet Greaves (2.59)

Points: Sebastian Aho (75)

Goals: Seth Jarvis (30)

Assists: Sebastian Aho (50)

GAA: Brandon Bussi (2.44)

Coaches:

Columbus Blue Jackets: Rick Bowness (1st season)

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