The NHL slate on Thursday features a showdown between the Carolina Hurricanes (24-12-3) and the Montreal Canadiens (21-12-6), starting at 7 p.m. ET at Lenovo Center and broadcast on ESPN+. The Hurricanes rank first in the Eastern Conference with 51 points and the Canadiens are third in the Eastern Conference with 48 points.
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Hurricanes vs. Canadiens: Jan. 1 Viewing Options
- Date: Thursday, January 1, 2026
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- How to watch on TV: ESPN+
- Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
- Venue: Lenovo Center
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)
Hurricanes' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.23 | 9th |
| Goals Allowed | 2.9 | 11th |
| Shots | 32.3 | 2nd |
| Shots Allowed | 24.5 | 1st |
| Power Play % | 17.8% | 22nd |
| Penalty Kill % | 79.63% | 19th |
Canadiens' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.28 | 6th |
| Goals Allowed | 3.26 | 23rd |
| Shots | 25.7 | 27th |
| Shots Allowed | 27.2 | 10th |
| Power Play % | 25% | 6th |
| Penalty Kill % | 77.78% | 23rd |
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Hurricanes vs. Canadiens Top Players
Hurricanes
- A productive offensive player this season for Carolina, Sebastian Aho has recorded 35 points.
- Shayne Gostisbehere is another of Carolina's major contributors currently with 29 total points (four goals and 25 assists) to his name.
- On 110 shots (for 19 goals) and 10 assists, Seth Jarvis has recorded 29 points this season.
- In 16 games played this season, Frederik Andersen (5-9-2) has allowed 54 goals.
Canadiens
- Nicholas Suzuki has scored 13 goals (0.3 per game) and put up 31 assists (0.8 per game), contributing to the Montreal offense with 44 total points (1.1 per game). He takes 2.1 shots per game, shooting 15.7%.
- Cole Caufield is a leading scorer for Montreal with 39 total points this season. He has scored 19 goals and added 20 assists in 39 games.
- Lane Hutson is a crucial contributor on offense for Montreal with five goals and 33 assists.
- Jakub Dobes has an .893 save percentage (44th in the league), with 461 total saves, allowing 55 goals (2.9 goals against average). He has put up a 12-5-3 record this season.
Hurricanes vs. Canadiens Injury Report
Hurricanes
Charles-Alexis Legault: Out (Hand),
Seth Jarvis: Out (Upper Body),
Jaccob Slavin: Out (Upper Body),
Pyotr Kochetkov: Out (Undisclosed),
Shayne Gostisbehere: Day-To-Day (Groin)
Canadiens
Kaiden Guhle: Out (Groin),
Kirby Dach: Out (Foot),
Jake Evans: Out (Lower Body),
Alexander Newhook: Out (Ankle),
Patrik Laine: Out (Abdomen)
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Hurricanes' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/27/2025 | Red Wings | W 5-2 | Home |
| 12/29/2025 | Rangers | W 3-2 | Home |
| 12/30/2025 | Penguins | L 5-1 | Away |
| 1/1/2026 | Canadiens | - | Home |
| 1/3/2026 | Avalanche | - | Home |
| 1/4/2026 | Devils | - | Away |
| 1/6/2026 | Stars | - | Home |
Canadiens' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/23/2025 | Bruins | W 6-2 | Away |
| 12/28/2025 | Lightning | L 5-4 | Away |
| 12/30/2025 | Panthers | W 3-2 | Away |
| 1/1/2026 | Hurricanes | - | Away |
| 1/3/2026 | Blues | - | Away |
| 1/4/2026 | Stars | - | Away |
| 1/7/2026 | Flames | - | Home |