The Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils meet at Lenovo Center for the first game of the season on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

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As action begins for the start of the NHL season, here's who we pick to bring home the win in Thursday's action.

Our computer projections model for this contest expects a final score of Hurricanes 4, Devils 2.

The Hurricanes had a 47-30-5 record overall, with a 7-6-13 record in contests that went to overtime, last season.
Carolina picked up 31 points (14-4-3) in the 21 games it played that were decided by one goal.
In the nine games last season the Hurricanes registered just one goal, they lost every time.
Carolina took 13 points from the 19 games last season when it scored exactly two goals (5-11-3 record).
The Hurricanes scored at least three goals in 62 games (51-8-3, 105 points).
In the 32 games when Carolina scored a single power-play goal, it went 17-12-3 to register 37 points.
In games when it outshot its opponent, Carolina was 44-26-5 (93 points).
The Hurricanes' opponent had more shots in 20 games last season. The Hurricanes finished 10-9-1 in those matchups (21 points).

The Devils put up a record of 7-8-15 in overtime games last season as part of an overall mark of 42-33-7.
In the 26 games New Jersey played that were decided by one goal, it picked up 28 points.
Last season the Devils recorded just one goal in nine games, and they picked up two points (0-7-2).
When New Jersey scored exactly two goals last season, they amassed seven points (3-13-1 record).
The Devils picked up 85 points in their 52 games when they scored at least three goals.
Last season New Jersey recorded a lone power-play goal in 22 games and picked up 28 points, with a record of 13-7-2.
When outshooting its opponent last season, New Jersey was 29-22-2 (60 points).
The Devils were outshot by their opponents 34 times last season, and took 34 points from those games.

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