The big picture

Carolina Hurricanes come in 1st on the ladder; Montreal Canadiens are 9th. Carolina Hurricanes have the higher position to protect.

Carolina Hurricanes are 13–5 in NHL 2026-27, averaging 3.8 goals for and 2.4 against.

Montreal Canadiens are 10–6 in NHL 2026-27, averaging 3.6 goals for and 3.2 against.

Form

Carolina Hurricanes have won four of their last five and most recently beat New York Islanders 5–3.

Montreal Canadiens have won four of their last five and most recently beat Utah Mammoth 5–4.

Head to head

These sides have met 59 times on our records since 2009: Carolina Hurricanes 32, Montreal Canadiens 27.

Last time out (2026-27), Carolina Hurricanes won 6–4 at Bell Centre.

Carolina Hurricanes have won the last five against Montreal Canadiens.

Biggest margin between these two: Montreal Canadiens by 6 goals in 2013-14 (6–0).

Players to watch

For Carolina Hurricanes, watch Logan Stankoven (0.7 goals a game, 7 assists in 2026-27) and Sebastian Aho (0.5 goals a game, 16 assists in 2026-27).

For Montreal Canadiens, watch Cole Caufield (0.7 goals a game, 5 assists in 2026-27) and Josh Anderson (0.4 goals a game, 4 assists in 2026-27).

Milestone watch

Nick Suzuki is 1 goals short of 200 for their career.

At Lenovo Center

Carolina Hurricanes have won 12 of their last 16 at Lenovo Center.

Montreal Canadiens have won 1 of 3 at Lenovo Center.

What the numbers say

On form, ladder and history, Carolina Hurricanes have the edge.