Columbus Blue Jackets - Carolina Hurricanes – Free NHL pick and predictions – March 17, 2026

Columbus Blue Jackets – Carolina Hurricanes – Free NHL pick and predictions – March 17, 2026

Columbus Blue Jackets – Carolina Hurricanes: A clash of extremes in Ohio National Hockey League - Wikipedia

Big game coming up. Columbus hosts Carolina and the stakes couldn’t be more different. The home side are scrapping for a playoff spot in the East and need points every time they hit the ice.

Carolina, on the other hand, are breezing through the regular season and wear the favorite tag. Do the Blue Jackets have the backbone to trip up the leader, or will the Hurricanes run the show? We break down the match-up and point you to the best play.

Columbus clings to its playoff dream Columbus Blue Jackets logo

Sitting 9th in the Eastern Conference with 79 points from 66 games (212 for, 208 against), Columbus are locked in a battle for the top eight. Form’s been hit-and-miss: 2 wins and 3 losses in their last five. They just scraped past Philadelphia 2-1 in a tight contest decided by tiny margins.

Before that they lost narrowly to Florida (2-1) but put five past Tampa Bay (5-2). The standout stat? Their home attack is cooking: across the last five home games they’re scoring 3.6 goals per match. In front of their crowd they don’t give an inch.

Carolina, the offensive storm on the road Carolina Hurricanes logo

On the other side it’s heavy duty. The Hurricanes sit atop the Eastern Conference and third in the NHL overall: 90 points from 66 games, 234 goals scored versus 192 conceded. One of the steadiest clubs in the league, they can flatten anyone on their day.

In their last five outings they have 3 wins and 2 losses, including a 4-2 win at Tampa Bay, after a surprise defeat to St. Louis (3-1). When they travel their attack is on absolute fire — 21 goals in their last five road games, a staggering 4.2 per match.

Bouton PenseBet

NHL Pick Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes

Draw or Columbus Blue Jackets win

On paper Carolina are the sensible pick. But the head-to-head tells another story, and that’s where the value hides. At home Columbus have been Carolina’s nightmare: the Blue Jackets have lost in regulation just once in their last 10 home meetings with Carolina (9 games without a 60-minute defeat).

Add a hot home attack (3.6 goals per game at Nationwide) and the desperate push for playoffs. Yes, Carolina hit hard, but Columbus know how to make them uncomfortable in Ohio and will scrap for every puck. Backing the Double Chance 1X (Columbus win or draw after 60 minutes) looks a very shrewd move given those one-sided numbers.

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Author

  • Gabriel Ramos

    Sportif dans l’âme, curieux et sociable, je suis un étudiant
    motivé qui cherche à multiplier les expériences professionnelles
    dans le domaine du sport pour développer mes compétences et
    relever de nouveaux défis


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