Bell Centre (Centre Bell), Montreal, Quebec | Puck drop: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV/Streaming: TSN2, RDS (Canada); Hurricanes Hockey Network / Spectrum / Prime Video / Fubo (Carolina market); ESPN+ (out-of-market)
This is Montreal’s home opener and the first regular-season meeting between the clubs since last spring’s Eastern Conference Final, which Carolina (the defending Stanley Cup champions) won 4-1. Both teams enter with three points.
Projected Lineups / Current Rosters
Carolina Hurricanes (projected; Brandon Bussi expected to start):
Forwards: William Carrier – Sebastian Aho – Andrei Svechnikov; Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake; Nikolaj Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook; Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Mark Jankowski – Eric Robinson
Defense: Jaccob Slavin – Jalen Chatfield; K’Andre Miller – Sean Walker; Shayne Gostisbehere – Mike Reilly
Goalies: Brandon Bussi (starter), Pyotr Kochetkov
Scratches (projected): Nic Deslauriers, Juuso Valimaki
Montreal Canadiens (projected after morning skate updates; Jakub Dobes expected to start for the third straight game):
Forwards: Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Chris Kreider; Juraj Slafkovsky – Alex Newhook – Kirby Dach; Zachary Bolduc – Phillip Danault – Alexandre Texier; Florian Xhekaj – Jake Evans – Josh Anderson
Defense: Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson; Lane Hutson – Alexandre Carrier; Jayden Struble – Arber Xhekaj
Goalies: Jakub Dobes (starter), Samuel Montembeault
Note: Ivan Demidov (lower-body) is out 2-4 weeks; Florian Xhekaj draws in for his season debut, and Dach moves up.
Injury Reports
Hurricanes: Seth Jarvis (C, shoulder surgery, IR; expected out until at least late October). No other significant absences listed for this game.
Canadiens: Ivan Demidov (RW, lower-body, out 2-4 weeks); Kaiden Guhle (D, groin/adductor, IR); Alexandre Carrier (D, undisclosed, day-to-day — listed in some projections); Oliver Kapanen (C, lower-body, day-to-day). Additional depth IR notes include Bryce Pickford and others not impacting the active roster significantly.
Recent Team Forms
Carolina (defending champions): Opened with a 1-0 OT loss to Florida (banner-raising night), dropped a 5-2 decision to Washington, then earned their first win with a 3-2 OT victory at Philadelphia (Aho with two goals and an assist; Gostisbehere OT winner). Offense has been modest early (roughly 1.6–1.7 GPG), but the structure and special teams remain strong. Bussi has seen the bulk of early work.
Montreal: Opened with a 3-2 road win at Toronto, then fell 6-5 in OT at Pittsburgh (Suzuki with four points). High-event hockey so far (around 4 GPG for and against). Home opener energy at Bell Centre should be significant after reaching the Eastern Conference Final last season.
Series History
The clubs have a long history (hundreds of games dating back decades, including Hartford Whalers era). Recent regular-season results favored Montreal in 2025-26 (they swept the season series), but Carolina dominated the 2026 Eastern Conference Final (4-1), including a 6-1 clincher. Playoff history is extensive (multiple series). This is the first of three scheduled regular-season meetings this year (also Nov. 19 in Carolina and Jan. 26 in Montreal).
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Sebastian Aho / top Hurricanes line vs. Nick Suzuki / Caufield-Kreider line: Aho has been productive early (multi-point efforts); Suzuki led Montreal with four points in the Pittsburgh game. Top-line battles will set the tone.
Andrei Svechnikov and Carolina’s depth scoring vs. Montreal’s blue line (Hutson, Matheson, Dobson): Carolina’s structured attack and power play against a mobile but injury-affected Canadiens defense.
Lane Hutson / Montreal transition game vs. Carolina’s defensive pairs (Slavin-Chatfield, etc.): Hutson’s playmaking against Carolina’s elite defensive system.
Goaltending: Brandon Bussi (Carolina) vs. Jakub Dobes (Montreal). Both have mixed early results; structure favors Carolina’s shot suppression.
Special teams: Carolina’s strong early PK and PP potential vs. Montreal’s higher-event style.
Betting Trends
Early-season scoring has been low for Carolina and high-event for Montreal. Home-opener atmosphere and recent regular-season success for Montreal provide value on the underdog side, while Carolina’s championship pedigree, structure, and road win last time out support the favorite. Public money has leaned toward Montreal in some spots.
Game Odds
Carolina Hurricanes – 117
Montreal Canadiens 6
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, October 5, 2026
