Carolina Hurricanes vs Columbus Blue Jackets Picks and Predictions for Tuesday March 17 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 03/17/2026, 01:05 AM ET

The Carolina Hurricanes travel to face the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH, with puck drop set for 7:00 PM on ESPN+. Carolina enters as a -135 favorite, while Columbus is listed at +114, and the total is set at 6.5 goals. Be sure to check out our free NHL picks for more daily betting insights and predictions.

Hurricanes Bringing Strong Road Form into Columbus

The Carolina Hurricanes come into this matchup with a 42-18-6 record and an 18-9-4 mark on the road. They have been playing solid hockey recently, recently winning over the Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Edmonton Oilers while recently losing to the St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames. This shows a team that has been competitive against strong opponents.

Carolina is averaging 3.47 goals per game while allowing 2.86, with an impressive 32.3 shots per game and just 24.1 shots allowed. Their power play has produced 44 goals with a 22.0% success rate, and their penalty kill sits at 80.0%. They also continue to stay disciplined by not allowing any short-handed goals.

What stands out most for Carolina is their shot differential and offensive pressure. They consistently outshoot opponents and control possession, which allows them to dictate pace and generate scoring opportunities.

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Blue Jackets Holding Strong at Home

Columbus enters this game with a 34-21-11 record and a strong 17-8-7 mark at home. They have been competitive recently, recently winning over the Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning while recently losing to the Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, and Utah Hockey Club. Many of their recent losses have come in close games.

The Blue Jackets are averaging 3.12 goals per game while allowing 3.14, taking 29.9 shots per game and allowing 29.5. Their power play has generated 32 goals with a 20.1% success rate, while their penalty kill sits at 77.6%.

Columbus has shown balance offensively but has struggled defensively at times. Their games tend to be high-scoring and closely contested, especially when facing strong offensive teams.

Carolina Hurricanes vs Columbus Blue Jackets Pick

Carolina Hurricanes Moneyline (-135)

Carolina’s ability to control possession and generate a high volume of shots gives them a clear edge in this matchup. While Columbus is strong at home, the Hurricanes’ consistency and offensive pressure should allow them to find success and secure the win.

Carolina Hurricanes vs Columbus Blue Jackets Total Pick

Over 6.5

I like the over in this matchup because both teams have been involved in high-scoring games, and Columbus in particular has struggled defensively. With Carolina’s offensive pressure and Columbus’ ability to score at home, this game has a strong chance to go over the total.

Final Score Prediction: Carolina Hurricanes 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 3

This prediction was written before the completion of game play on Monday.