Senators vs Hurricanes Prediction 4/18/2026 Today’s NHL Picks

In this article we will formulate a Senators vs Hurricanes prediction for this NHL game on Saturday, April 18th at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL playoff matchup.

Ottawa Senators Betting Preview

The Ottawa Senators are 44-27-11 this season after they defeated the Maple Leafs by a score of 3-1 in their last game. Ottawa had their lead cut to 2-1 in the third period, but they added an empty net goal with six seconds left to seal the win. The Senators out shot Toronto by a total of 38-20, won 57.4% of the face-offs, and went 2-3 on the power play in the game. Ottawa got goals from Batherson, Cozens, and Foegele, while Reimer stopped 19 out of 20 shots, which was a .950 save percentage. 

Prior to that game, Ottawa lost to the Devils by a score of 4-3, but did beat the Islanders by a score of 3-0 before that. The Senators have won five of their last six games and they finished fifth in the Atlantic standings with 99 points. Ottawa has scored 3.35 goals per game and they have allowed 2.99 goals against per game, while also going 24.0% on the power play and 75.8% on the penalty kill this season. Tim Stutzle has led Ottawa with 34 goals and 49 assists, while Drake Batherson has added 33 goals and 38 assists. The projected starting goalie for Ottawa is Linus Ullmark, who is 28-12-8 with a 2.73 goals against average and an .891 save percentage this season. 

Carolina Hurricanes Betting Preview

The Carolina Hurricanes are 53-22-7 this year after they defeated the Islanders by a score of 2-1 in their last game. Carolina allowed the Islanders to tie the game at one in the second period, but they scored with about five minutes left in the third for the win. The Hurricanes were out shot by a total of 30-21, won 50.0% of the face-offs, and went 0-1 on the power play in the game. Carolina got goals from Ehlers and Jankowski, while Bussi stopped 29 out of 30 shots, which was a .967 save percentage.

Prior to that game, Carolina lost to the Flyers by a score of 3-2, but did beat the Mammoth by a score of 4-1 before that. The Hurricanes have won four of their last five games and they finished first in the Metro standings with 113 points. Carolina has scored 3.55 goals per game and they have allowed 2.88 goals against per game, while also going 24.9% on the power play and 80.6% on the penalty kill this season. Sebastian Aho has led Carolina with 27 goals and 53 assists, while Andrei Svechnikov has added 31 goals and 39 assists. The projected starting goalie for Carolina is Frederik Andersen, who is 16-14-5 with a 3.05 goals against average and an .874 save percentage this season. 

Why the Carolina Hurricanes will win

• The Hurricanes have won each of their last six home games when playing with a rest advantage.
• The Senators have lost each of their last three Game 1s of an Eastern Conference First Round series.
• The Senators have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six day games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• The favorites have covered the puck line in four of the Senators’ last five games.
• The Senators have lost the third period in each of their last four games as road underdogs when leading after the second period.

Why the Ottawa Senators will win

• The Senators have won nine of their last 12 games as underdogs following a home win.
• The Hurricanes have lost five of their last six day games against Atlantic Division opponents.
• The Senators have covered the puck line in each of their last eight games as road underdogs following a win.
• The Hurricanes have failed to cover the puck line in nine of their last 10 home games when playing with a rest advantage.
• The Senators have won the second period in each of their last four games as underdogs following a home win.

Total Goals Facts

• Seven of the Hurricanes’ last eight day games have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Seven of the Senators’ last eight games at Lenovo Center following a home win have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in eight of the Hurricanes’ last nine games.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in seven of the Senators’ last eight games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.

Carolina Hurricanes Player Prop Facts

• Andrei Svechnikov has scored a goal in five of his last six appearances with the Hurricanes as favorites.
• Nikolaj Ehlers has recorded at least one assist in each of his last five appearances with his team as a favorite against the Senators.
• Jaccob Slavin has recorded seven blocks against the Senators this season – equal-most against any opponent.

Ottawa Senators Player Prop Facts

• Tim Stutzle has scored at least one goal in eight of his last 10 road appearances against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• Jake Sanderson has recorded at least one assist in each of the Senators’ last four games against the Hurricanes.
• Warren Foegele has recorded two blocks against the Hurricanes this season – equal-most against any opponent.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Carolina Hurricanes rank 4th in the league in power play percentage this season (24.90%).
• The Carolina Hurricanes rank T5th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.88).
• The Ottawa Senators rank 8th in the league in power play percentage this season (23.95%).
• The Ottawa Senators rank 31st in the league in save percentage this season (.882).

Senators vs Hurricanes Prediction 

Carolina comes into this matchup as the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference and they are elite on both ends of the ice. The Hurricanes are 29-10-2 at home this year, while the Senators are 21-15-5 on the road. Ottawa finished as the second wild card, but they played very well down the stretch and have allowed two goals or fewer in four of their last five games. The Hurricanes won two of the three meetings in the regular season by scores of 4-1, 4-3, and 3-6. This will be a competitive series, but I think Carolina and their very tough defense will get the win at home in this one.

David Racey's Pick: Hurricanes ML