The Carolina Hurricanes (24-12-3) square off against the Montreal Canadiens (21-12-6) as a part of Thursday's NHL schedule, starting at 7 p.m. ET at Lenovo Center and broadcast on ESPN+. The Hurricanes rank first with 51 points and the Canadiens are fourth with 48 points in the Eastern Conference.
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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 | 12th |
| Shots | 32.3 | 2nd |
| Shots Allowed | 24.5 | 1st |
| Power Play % | 17.8% | 22nd |
| Penalty Kill % | 79.63% | 20th |
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% | 5th |
| Penalty Kill % | 77.78% | 23rd |
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Hurricanes vs. Canadiens Top Players
Hurricanes
- Sebastian Aho is one of Carolina's top contributors this season with 35 points. He has averaged 0.4 goals per game, shooting 15.9%.
- Shayne Gostisbehere has 29 points (four goals, 25 assists) to add to the team's offensive efforts.
- Seth Jarvis has contributed 29 points for Carolina in 34 games this season, scoring on 17.3% of his shots and recording 19 goals and 10 assists.
- Across 16 games played, Frederik Andersen has a goaltending record of 5-9-2. During those games, he's allowed 54 goals while recording 346 saves.
Canadiens
- Nicholas Suzuki's 44 points make him a vital offensive option for Montreal. He has put up 13 goals and 31 assists in 39 games.
- Cole Caufield has helped lead the attack for Montreal this season with 19 goals and 20 assists.
- Lane Hutson has posted five goals on the season, adding 33 assists.
- Jakub Dobes has a 12-5-3 record this season, with an .893 save percentage (44th in the league). He has 461 saves, and has given up 55 goals (2.9 goals against average).
Hurricanes vs. Canadiens Injury Report
Hurricanes
Charles-Alexis Legault: Out (Hand),
Pyotr Kochetkov: Out (Undisclosed),
Shayne Gostisbehere: Day-To-Day (Groin),
Seth Jarvis: Out (Upper Body),
Jaccob Slavin: Out (Upper Body)
Canadiens
Alexander Newhook: Out (Ankle),
Patrik Laine: Out (Abdomen),
Kaiden Guhle: Out (Groin),
Kirby Dach: Out (Foot),
Jake Evans: Out (Lower Body)
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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 |