The New Jersey Devils will hit the road for their season opener on Thursday when they face the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh. These are two Eastern Conference squads with high expectations, both loaded with offensive firepower and motivated to seize early momentum. Before these teams play in their first game of the season, you can continue reading to get my Devils vs Hurricanes prediction.
Our Devils vs Hurricanes Pick
- Pick: Hurricanes Moneyline
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: New Jersey Devils vs Carolina Hurricanes
- Date & Time: Thursday, October 9, 2025, 7:30 PM ET
- Venue: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
- Broadcast: ESPN+ / Hulu
Devils vs Hurricanes Odds
| Odds Type | Line |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | Hurricanes –155 | Devils +135 |
| Puckline | Hurricanes –1.5 (+160) | Devils +1.5 (-190) |
| Total | 5.5 |
Key Storylines
Recent Form
- Both teams enter fresh, as this is their season opener. We should see close to the best that both of these teams have to offer.
- In postseason play last year, Carolina eliminated New Jersey in a five-game series. That outcome likely still lingers in the psyches of both clubs heading into this season.
- New Jersey’s veteran defenseman Brett Pesce is returning to Carolina for his 700th NHL game.
Goaltending
Frederik Andersen is expected to start for Carolina. Reports suggest Pyotr Kochetkov is day-to-day with a minor issue after missing practice. Carolina has a veteran presence in net to lean on. The Devils will go to Jacob Markstrom to start this season in net after he won 26 games last season.
Key Skaters
On the Hurricanes side, the forward group will be one to watch. Their top line of Ehlers, Aho, and Jarvis is expected to be great again this year. Andrei Svechnikov is expected to be dangerous on a secondary line, especially given his playoff explosion last spring.
For the Devils, Jack Hughes remains the linchpin of their attack. His development and chemistry with Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt are central to New Jersey’s offensive play. Luke Hughes is entering a big contract year and needs to deliver stability on defense for New Jersey.
Best Player Props
| Player | Over/Under Points |
|---|---|
| Sebastian Aho | Over 1.5 points |
| Seth Jarvis | Over 1.5 points |
| Jack Hughes | Over 0.5 assists |
Betting Trends & H2H
- New Jersey went 23-16-2 on the road last season.
- Carolina was 31-9-1 at home during the regular season last year.
Devils vs Hurricanes Model Projection
Score Projection: Devils 2 – Hurricanes 4
Win Probability: Devils 38%, Hurricanes 62%
Final Thoughts
Both of these teams have high hopes going into this year. But this game should go the way of the Hurricanes at home. Carolina was tied with the Los Angeles Kings for the most wins at home a season ago. They should pick up where they left off at home in their regular-season opener here, even with Kochetkov dealing with injury concerns in the Canes’ goaltending group.
