First period
The New Jersey Devils vs Carolina Hurricanes prediction and odds will be shaped early by lineup availability, because Jack Hughes is out with a finger injury on injured reserve and Brett Pesce is out on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
That injury list also includes
Zack MacEwen (lower body) and
Marc McLaughlin (undisclosed) on injured reserve, plus
Johnathan Kovacevic (knee) on long-term injured reserve, which narrows New Jersey’s margin for a fast start in Raleigh.
For Devils fans tracking player props,
Jesper Bratt profiles as the top New Jersey performer in this matchup framing, while
Nico Hischier,
Timo Meier, and
Dawson Mercer remain available forwards who can stabilize early shifts.
In net, New Jersey’s options include
Jacob Markstrom and
Jake Allen, and the goaltending choice can influence early-game totals and first-period moneyline interest.
Second period
The betting board for this regular-season game lists Carolina as the home side and New Jersey as the away side, and that home-ice setup often pushes the market toward the Hurricanes in core NHL odds like the moneyline.
Any live betting lean for the Devils in the middle frame ties back to available defensive structure from
Dougie Hamilton,
Luke Hughes,
Simon Nemec, and
Jonas Siegenthaler, because those minutes can reduce high-danger looks that inflate over/under risk.
A measured second period also matters for Devils bettors looking at puck line value, because a one-goal game late is where plus-money spreads can stay alive even without full lineup strength.
For New Jersey Devils vs Carolina Hurricanes betting trends, the most actionable fact here is roster-driven: New Jersey is missing Hughes and Pesce, which can move pricing toward Carolina and nudge totals based on expected finishing and blue-line depth.
Third period
Late-game wagering will hinge on whether New Jersey’s available forwards—Bratt, Hischier, Meier, Ondrej Palat, and Paul Cotter—can generate the kind of volume that forces Carolina to defend rather than protect a lead.
If the Devils are chasing, bettors often watch for empty-net sequencing that can swing totals and puck line outcomes, and that scenario is more likely when an away team is missing a top offensive piece like Hughes.
From a head to head standpoint, the only confirmed matchup fact in this slate is the venue setup with Carolina at home and New Jersey away, which matters because last-change and home matchups can affect late-period deployment.
In the final market check, watch for any late odds movement tied to confirmed goalie selection between Markstrom and Allen and to New Jersey’s already-established injury list, because those are the clearest levers available in this game’s data.
The Devils face the Hurricanes on March 28, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, and fans looking for how to stream New Jersey Devils vs Carolina Hurricanes can watch on ESPN+ or on TV via MSGSN and FDSSO.
Ride the numbers, track the lineup confirmations, and keep your wagers disciplined—and if this breakdown helped, share this article with other Devils fans.
