Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes Picks and Predictions for Thursday October 29 2026
Columbus finally got a win Tuesday, beating Philadelphia 4-3 in overtime. Good for the Blue Jackets. They needed it. But now they have to go to Raleigh and deal with a Carolina team that’s been scoring almost four goals a night. That’s a much tougher assignment than people might think after seeing Columbus win one close game.
The Blue Jackets visit the Hurricanes Thursday at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Puck drop is 7:00 PM ET. Carolina comes in with one of the best records in hockey, and Columbus has been pretty ordinary through its first ten games. I’m going with the Hurricanes on the moneyline and looking at Over 5.5 goals. Get in on all the action before it happens with our free NHL picks.
Columbus Blue Jackets Have Some Work to Do
Columbus is 5-5, and the Blue Jackets have been all over the place. They beat Vegas 2-1 in overtime Saturday, then needed another overtime period to get past Philadelphia 4-3 on Tuesday. That’s two wins, but neither was easy. Before that, Columbus had been struggling to put the puck in the net. The Blue Jackets aren’t playing badly every night. They’re just having trouble putting together sixty minutes of good hockey.
Columbus has been scoring around 2.5 goals per game while allowing more than three. That’s not going to get you very far against Carolina. The Hurricanes can spend long stretches in the offensive zone, and Columbus hasn’t been generating enough shots to make up for that kind of pressure. The power play has also been a problem. When you’re not scoring much at even strength, you can’t afford to waste chances with the extra man.
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The injury list isn’t helping. Isac Lundestrom is out with an Achilles injury, and Ivan Provorov is sidelined with a lower-body problem. Caleb MacDonald is also unavailable. That’s a tough spot for a team that’s already having trouble keeping opponents away from the net. Columbus needs its defense to be sharp Thursday, because Carolina isn’t the sort of club that waits around for you to get organized.
Carolina Hurricanes Keep Making Teams Chase the Puck
Carolina is 10-2-2, and the Hurricanes have been playing like a team that expects to win every night. They’ve scored 53 goals in fourteen games, which works out to about 3.8 a night. That’s a lot of offense. They also beat Boston 2-1 Tuesday after shutting out St. Louis 4-0 over the weekend. So it’s not just about scoring four or five. Carolina can win when the game gets tight, too.
What makes the Hurricanes difficult is how much time they spend with the puck. They keep shooting, keep forechecking and make opponents defend for long stretches. Carolina has been putting more than 35 shots on goal a night over its recent run while allowing far fewer chances at the other end. Columbus has been closer to 27 shots per game. That’s a pretty big difference. If the Blue Jackets spend half the night chasing Carolina around their own zone, they’re going to wear down.
Carolina has some injuries to deal with. Jordan Staal is out with a calf injury, Taylor Hall has been dealing with an undisclosed problem, and Alexander Nikishin is unavailable. Those are real losses, especially Staal’s work in the defensive end. But Carolina has still been winning without a full lineup. The Hurricanes have enough depth to keep rolling four lines, and that’s why I don’t see Columbus getting much of a break.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes Picks and Predictions
Carolina Hurricanes Moneyline
I’m taking Carolina, although I wouldn’t chase a terrible price. Columbus has won two straight overtime games, and that’s enough to remind you the Blue Jackets can hang around. But Carolina has been better in just about every area that matters. More shots, more goals, better puck possession and a defense that doesn’t give away nearly as much. Columbus might get a few chances on the counterattack, but I don’t see the Blue Jackets controlling enough of this game to win it. Carolina should have the puck more often and make Columbus work for every clear. Give me the Hurricanes at home.
Over 5.5 Goals — Target Total
I’ll lean Over 5.5. Carolina has scored 53 goals already, and Columbus has been allowing more than three per game. The Hurricanes could do most of the work themselves if they get rolling early. The worry is that Carolina controls the game so well that Columbus doesn’t contribute much. A 4-1 final wouldn’t surprise me. But Columbus has scored four in its last game, and the Blue Jackets can take advantage of Carolina’s missing defensive pieces if they get a few good chances. I’m looking at something like 4-2 Hurricanes.
Final Picks: Carolina Hurricanes Moneyline and Over 5.5 Goals (target total)
Preview prepared October 28, 2026
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