Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes prediction: Kochetkov or Bussi? Carolina's goalie call shadows a lopsided shot matchup
The Hurricanes own the puck like no one else, so Columbus's best hope may depend on which Carolina goalie takes the crease.
| Line | Carolina Hurricanes -260 (puck line -1.5) |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 6 |
- Carolina should tilt the ice heavily; Columbus needs a fast start and big saves to drag this into another one-goal game.
- The crease: probable starter Kochetkov owns a .918 save percentage, but previews point to Bussi, who sits at 86.5%.
- Carolina is -235 with the total at 6.0, both unchanged since our feed first saw the game; Carolina's puck-line record is 7-7.
The question in Carolina's net
ESPN lists Pyotr Kochetkov as Carolina's probable starter, and it is easy to see why the Hurricanes would want him. His eighth straight win to open the season tied Frederik Andersen for the longest season-opening winning streak in franchise history. He carries a .918 save percentage this season.
But Kochetkov has started the last two games, and Thursday's previews lean toward Brandon Bussi getting the night. Neither starter was confirmed in the information we had. The gap is real: Bussi's save percentage sits at 86.5%, with a 3.27 goals-against average.
Columbus has its own split. ESPN lists Jet Greaves, yet Cam Talbot started Tuesday at Philadelphia and has been the go-to since Greaves was pulled against Toronto on Oct. 20. Talbot is saving 89.4% of shots this season, and Columbus's team save percentage ranks 23rd.
Carolina lives in your zone
The Hurricanes lead the NHL in shots on goal per game at 33.6 and allow the fewest. That adds up to a 60.6% shot share (their share of all shots in their games), first of 32.
Columbus sits 24th in shot share and has struggled to finish what it does create. The Blue Jackets score 2.5 goals per game, 28th in the league. Against a team that rarely gives up volume, they cannot afford to waste looks.
Special teams tilt the same way
Carolina draws 3.64 power plays per game, third in the league, and converts 23.5% of them. That pressure lands on a Columbus penalty kill that stops 72.7% of opposing chances, 23rd of 32.
The other direction offers little relief. The Blue Jackets' power play converts 11.1% of its opportunities, 30th, and they draw the fourth-fewest power plays in the league. Discipline will matter more for Columbus than for most visitors.
Where Columbus can steal it
The Blue Jackets start fast. They score 1.3 first-period goals per game and allow 0.6, and both rank fourth. Tuesday in Philadelphia they led 3-0 after one before needing overtime.
Kent Johnson drives the offense with six goals, and he scored twice Tuesday with Zach Werenski assisting on both. Columbus has won two straight for the first time this season, both in overtime, though it hasn't won in regulation since the opener.
Availability cuts both ways. Carolina's Taylor Hall left Tuesday's morning skate with a new undisclosed issue and is out "for a little bit," Rod Brind'Amour said, while captain Jordan Staal remains on injured reserve with a calf injury. Columbus got Dante Fabbro back Tuesday but is still without Ivan Provorov (injured reserve) and Isac Lundestrom (long-term injured reserve).
What the market says
Carolina is a -235 moneyline favorite, with Columbus at +195. The Hurricanes are -1.5 on the puck line and the total sits at 6.0, neither moving since our feed first logged the game Wednesday.
The puck line is where Carolina's dominance gets muddy: the Hurricanes are 7-7 against it, and their games have gone under eight times. Columbus has covered just three times in 10 games. The Hurricanes won the last two meetings last season, 5-2 and 5-1, but this is the first matchup of 2026-27.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes line movement and odds
| Book | Jackets ML | Hurricanes ML | Jackets spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | +210 | -275 | +1.5 (-120) | o5.5 (-150) |
| DraftKings | +210 | -258 | +1.5 (-122) | o6.5 (+120) |
| ESPN BET | +200 | -240 | +1.5 (-120) | o5.5 (-130) |
| Fanatics | +210 | -260 | +1.5 (-120) | o5.5 (-140) |
| FanDuel | +205 | -255 | +1.5 (-120) | o6.5 (+112) |
| Hard Rock Bet | +185 | -260 | +1.5 (-130) | o5.5 (-130) |
| Caesars | +225 | -285 | — | o6 (-120) |
Key players
- Sebastian Aho (Carolina Hurricanes): Aho leads Carolina with 19 points this season and scored the go-ahead goal Tuesday against Boston.
- Logan Stankoven (Carolina Hurricanes): Stankoven has eight goals this season and a team-best plus-11 among the listed skaters.
- Pyotr Kochetkov (Carolina Hurricanes): Kochetkov has a 1.62 goals-against average this season, though previews suggest he may get the night off.
- Brandon Bussi (Carolina Hurricanes): Bussi's save percentage sits at 86.5% this season, well below Kochetkov's.
- Kent Johnson (Columbus Blue Jackets): Johnson has six goals on a 27.3% shooting rate this season, including two Tuesday.
- Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets): Werenski logs 28.9 minutes a night and has eight assists this season.
- Cam Talbot (Columbus Blue Jackets): Talbot has an 89.4% save percentage this season and started Tuesday's win at Philadelphia.
Numbers that matter
| Carolina shot share | 60.6% | First in the NHL, the clearest edge in this matchup. |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus penalty kill | 72.7% | Ranks 23rd against a Carolina team that draws the third-most power plays. |
| Columbus first-period goals per game | 1.3 | Fourth in the league, the Blue Jackets' best path to keeping this close. |
| Carolina moneyline | -235 | Unchanged since our feed first saw the game, with the total holding at 6.0. |
| Bussi save percentage | 86.5% | If he starts instead of Kochetkov, Carolina's goaltending edge shrinks. |
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes: quick answers
What is the over/under for Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes?
The total is 6 goals.
When is Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes?
Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 7:10 PM ET.
Has the line moved for Columbus Blue Jackets vs Carolina Hurricanes?
No: Columbus Blue Jackets has stayed at +1.5, and the total moved from 6.5 to 5.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).