Jan. 8, 2026, 6:17 a.m. ET

The Anaheim Ducks (21-19-3) and Carolina Hurricanes (26-14-3) meet Thursday at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Ducks vs. Hurricanes and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Season series: Hurricanes lead 1-0

Carolina won 4-1 in the first meeting in Anaheim on Oct. 16 as heavy favorites (-190) as the Under (6.5) cashed. C Seth Jarvis scored 2 goals and had an assist, D Alexander Nikishin had his first NHL goal in the regular season, while C Sebastian Aho notched a goal.

The Hurricanes pounded the Dallas Stars 6-3 as moderate favorites (-145) Tuesday as the Over (5.5) cashed. G Brandon Bussi notched 20 saves on 23 shots, while D K’Andre Miller had 2 goals, while D Shayne Gostisbehere and Jarvis had power-play goals.

Carolina has won the past 2 games, outscoring the Stars and New Jersey Devils 9-4, and it is still 4-3-0 in the past 7 outings.

Anaheim was tripped up 5-2 Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers as a slight underdog (+115) as the Over (5.5) cashed. LWs Cutter Gauthier and Alex Killorn each had power-play goals, but that wasn’t nearly enough to pull the Ducks out of their nosedive.

The Ducks are skidding hard, going 0-6-1 in the past 7 games, while allowing 3+ goals in 10 consecutive games. They’re allowing 5.0 goals per game (GPG) in the dismal span, with the Over going 9-1 in the 10-game run since Dec. 16.

Watch the NHL on Fubo!Ducks at Hurricanes odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated 6:07 am. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Ducks +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Hurricanes -220 (bet $220 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Ducks +1.5 (-135) | Hurricanes -1.5 (+110)Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -125 | U: +105)Ducks at Hurricanes projected goalies

Lukas Dostal (13-11-2, 3.25 GAA, .887 SV%) vs. Brandon Bussi (15-2-1, 2.29 GAA, .903 SV%, 1 SO)

Dostal coughed up 4 goals on 38 shots in a 5-2 loss in Philadelphia Tuesday. He has allowed 4 or more goals in each of his past 5 starts. In January, Dostal is 0-2-0 with a 3.91 GAA and .880 SV% in 2 starts and 1 relief appearance.

The rookie Bussi has cooled off a little bit in January, but the offensive support has kept the wins coming. He is 2-1-0 in 3 starts in January, but he has coughed up 10 goals for a 3.37 GAA and .877 SV% after posting a 2.05 GAA in 7 December starts, a 1.98 GAA in 4 November starts and a 2.25 GAA in 4 October starts.

Ducks at Hurricanes picks and predictionsPrediction

Hurricanes 5, Ducks 3

The Hurricanes (-220) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return, and that’s way too expensive for a straight up bet. My personal moneyline limit is -180. Even with a boost or promo, it’s not worth it.

If you were to toss the Canes into a multi-leg parlay, that’s probably OK, mitigating some of the risk. But, it’s best to AVOID, and look to the puck line instead.

The HURRICANES -1.5 (+110) are a much less risky play at plus-money on the puck line as favorites.

It’s a mix of 2 factors. First, the Ducks are putrid lately, going 1-7-2 across the past 10 games, and second, the Hurricanes have 5 victories since Dec. 17, and 4 of those wins are by 2 or more goals. So, if you like the Canes, you should like them to cover the puck line, too.

OVER 6.5 (-125) is worth a look, as the Ducks have been hemorrhaging goals lately, allowing 5.0 GPG across the past 10 outings, hitting the Over in 6 in a row, and 9 times in the past 10 games.

For the Canes, the Over has cashed in 3 of the past 4 games, while going 7-3 in the past 10 outings. Carolina hasn’t been bleeding goals as much as Anaheim, but it has allowed 4.0 GPG in the 10-game span.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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